Category: English

My sister, Stella, had a string of bad relationships that convinced her all men were jerks. The day I introduced her to my boyfriend, Ethan, she didn’t hold back. “He’s no different from the rest,” she said, “he’ll betray you in the end.” Under the table, I tugged at her sleeve. But Ethan didn’t get angry. He looked Stella right in the eyes and said, word for word: “If I ever betray Luna, I’ll lose everything.” Stella just scoffed. “We’ll see about that.” After that, their relationship was icy, and I was stuck in the middle, torn. Then I went away for a six-month work trip. The night before I was due back, I was scrolling in bed and stumbled upon an anonymous confession thread. [I fell for my sister’s boyfriend. What do I do?] The comments section was flooded with hate. Until I scrolled to a reply from a burner account: [Don’t yell at her, everyone. It’s not her fault; I was the one who pursued her.] [She looks tough on the outside, but she’s so fragile inside. The more I see that, the more my heart aches for her.] My finger froze. I instinctively tapped on the profile. It only had one video of a cat. But a chill ran through me, and I couldn’t stop trembling. That cat was the one Ethan had given me.

I zoomed in on the video again and again. Afraid to miss a single detail. But every detail told me. This was the cat from our first anniversary. Ethan had braved a snowstorm to deliver it to me exactly at midnight on my birthday. He said the kitten’s name was Happy. He hoped I’d be happy every day after that. A massive sense of absurdity washed over me. I could barely breathe. I exited the profile. And scrolled back to the beginning of the confession thread. It had been posted an hour ago. [First time I met him, I hated him. I’d been betrayed before, so I had zero good feelings for men.] [But he was good to my sister. She has a sensitive stomach, so he kept a note of what she could and couldn’t eat.] [Whenever she worked late, he’d pick her up, no matter how late it was.] [He remembered all her likes and dislikes. His profile picture, his social media posts, his background — it was all her…] I bit down hard on my lip, tasting iron. Ethan was so good to me. He remembered my period every month, always keeping pain meds in his bag. Once, I was writhing in pain from cramps in the middle of the night, and he immediately bought the earliest flight to come to me, just to bring me medicine. Things I’d casually mention, he’d take to heart and make happen the next day. He was an atheist, but for me, he’d even visit a church and pray for my safety. I’d always felt lucky to have found the best man in the world. My hands shaking, I continued to scroll down: [Later, my sister went on a business trip and told me to go to him if I needed anything, saying he was reliable. I said I’d rather die than ask him for help.] [That night, there was a heavy rainstorm, and the light bulb in the house suddenly blew out. I’m afraid of the dark, and no one answered when I called maintenance.] [I had no choice but to dig out the number my sister left and called him.] [Half an hour later, he appeared at the door, soaking wet, smiling as he said, “Turns out you get scared too.”] [In that moment, I felt something I couldn’t explain.] I remembered that. Ethan would update me daily. That night, when we were on FaceTime. He’d brought it up himself. “Stella looks fearless, but she’s actually afraid of the dark.” He talked about Stella for a long time. Laughing as he spoke. His laughter held a hint of fondness. At the time, I didn’t think much of it and even told him that if Stella ever needed anything, he had to help her immediately. [After that, whenever something broke at home, I’d instinctively think of calling him.] [We started seeing each other more often, and I guess I didn’t hate him as much anymore.] [He often waited for me to get off work, then accompanied me to the grocery store or to watch a movie.] [He even learned how to cook my favorite dishes, and just like with my sister, he wrote down what I liked and disliked in his notes.] [I once said, “Could you please stop using Luna’s picture as your avatar when we talk?” and he immediately changed it to an avatar with the same color scheme as mine.] [My feelings for him became more and more complicated.] That avatar was the first photo he took of me when we first started dating. I’d even teased him about it back then. “Aren’t you afraid people will laugh at you for using my photo?” He gently squeezed my cheek, a proud look on his face. “My girlfriend is so beautiful, of course I want to tell everyone.” He’d used it for five years, never changing it no matter what anyone said. The day he changed his avatar, I’d asked him about it. He said it was for work reasons. I believed him. Turns out, it was because of one sentence from Stella. Tears welled in my eyes, blurring the screen. [Tonight, he and I went to see a movie. At the end, he suddenly turned to me and asked, “Do you like me?”] [I heard my own heartbeat, and then I heard him say, “I wish I had met you sooner.”] [I couldn’t control myself and kissed him. He didn’t pull away.] [I feel disgusted with myself for doing such a thing to my sister’s boyfriend, but I can’t control how I feel about him.] [My sister comes back tomorrow. I don’t know how I’m going to face her.]

My stomach churned, a wave of nausea rushing to my throat. I hunched over the bed, dry heaving, but nothing came up. Our parents died in a car crash when I was eight and Stella was thirteen. Stella went to all my parent-teacher conferences. She braided my hair every morning. Stella taught me how to use a pad when I first got my period. When I brought Ethan to meet her. I desperately wanted her approval. Because in my heart, she had already surpassed even my mom. But now. The person I loved most, the person I cherished most. Both of them had been hiding so much from me. My heart felt like it was being ripped open, and I curled up on the bed, only able to whimper. The confession thread’s popularity soared. The hateful comments grew more and more intense. [Gross. Flirting with your sister’s boyfriend, and acting all innocent here? How disgusting is that?] [My heart goes out to the sister. The two people she loves most, getting together behind her back. It’s suffocating just thinking about it.] [“Can’t control yourself”? Why don’t you just die? And this guy, what a total piece of trash!] Underneath every hateful comment, there was a reply from Ethan. [She’s in more pain than anyone. She hates herself more than anyone. You have no right to judge her.] [Yes, I’m trash, but even as trash, I want to protect her.] [If I had met her first, I would have chosen her.] The latest update on the confession thread was from a minute ago. [You’re right to curse me. I’m disgusting, I’m vile. I’ll stay away from him from now on. I can’t lose my sister.] My phone slipped from my grasp and clattered to the floor. I had been so excited, thinking I’d be home tomorrow. Now, I didn’t know how I could face them. The city lights glowed outside, and I spent a sleepless night. After a painful internal struggle, I still dragged my luggage to the airport. Stella’s message arrived promptly. [Luna, I’ll be waiting for you at the exit.] Ethan’s message came a minute before I boarded. [Luna, be careful on your way. I’ll be waiting for you.] This was the only message since our hasty call last night. Normally, he’d call me half an hour beforehand to wake me up. He’d fuss over me, reminding me not to forget my ID, not to forget my things, not to forget to eat breakfast. Then he’d text me constantly throughout the journey, telling me to be safe. But now, it was just a brief sentence. I didn’t reply. I turned off my phone and closed my eyes. When the plane landed, I saw Stella and Ethan at the exit. Standing two meters apart, one on my left, one on my right. Like strangers. Stella’s eye makeup was heavy; it was almost impossible to tell she’d been crying last night. She was always like that, never showing her vulnerable side. Not even to me. Ethan didn’t rush over excitedly like he used to. He adjusted to what looked like a natural smile and pulled a bouquet of flowers from the trunk. “Luna, welcome back.” When he handed me the flowers. Both Stella and I froze. Because he was holding white roses. Those were Stella’s favorite flowers.

I fought hard to control my expression, to keep myself from breaking down. Stella only liked white roses, and I was the one who told him that. I only liked baby’s breath; he had never gotten it wrong all these years. He finally realized he was holding white roses. His eyes darted nervously for a moment, then he quickly tried to cover it up: “I was in such a rush this morning, I didn’t even notice I grabbed the wrong flowers. I’ll get you a bigger bouquet later.” He said, then instinctively glanced at Stella. Stella didn’t look at him. She walked straight over and took my suitcase. “Come on, I’ll take you to get something good to eat.” Normally, Stella, Ethan, and I would go out and feast on all our favorite foods. But those words from the confession thread kept replaying in my mind. I managed a strained smile: “You two go ahead. I need to go back to the office first.” Ethan stepped forward: “I’ll drive you.” “No need!” I refused without thinking. Perhaps my emotions were too intense. Ethan and Stella furrowed their brows, their eyes filled with confusion. I lowered my head, took my suitcase back from Stella, and steadied my voice: “The company is waiting for my report. I won’t be back until a bit later.” Their brows relaxed, and Stella smiled: “Okay, then I’ll make your favorite dinner tonight.” Ethan curved his lips: “Then call me when you’re done, and I’ll pick you up.” I nodded. Pulling my suitcase, I fled the airport like a phantom and hailed a taxi to the company. Outside the window, familiar streetscapes sped past. I had lived in this city for twenty-five years. Every road held a trace of both of them. Stella would always rip into Ethan over something he said. Each time, Ethan would raise his hands in surrender, muttering, “My bad, my bad.” Then he’d quietly lean into my ear and complain: “Stella is so fierce.” Those days were truly happy. Snapping back to reality, I realized my face was streaked with tears. The taxi driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror. “Ma’am, nothing’s impossible to get over. You gotta look forward in life.” I gave an embarrassed smile. And wiped away the tears from my eyes. I got out at the company building, paid the driver, and took a deep breath, looking up at the office tower. I’d been on a business trip for six months, temporarily assigned to an out-of-state project. Because of my excellent performance, my manager had even wanted to send me to participate in a secret overseas project. I had refused. Because Ethan said he wanted to get married soon. Before my trip, he’d said we’d look at wedding venues when I got back. But now, no need for wedding venues. But this project, I would take it. Walking into the office, the manager was coming out of a meeting room with a stack of documents. He saw me and paused: “Luna? Aren’t you supposed to be back tomorrow?” “Came back early.” I forced a smile: “Manager, that overseas assignment you mentioned earlier, I want to apply for it.” The manager’s eyes lit up: “Really? I tried to convince you for so long, and you wouldn’t budge.” “What, did you change your mind?” Changed my mind? Even now, I still couldn’t believe Stella and Ethan would betray me. But I knew some things didn’t need to be understood. Only accepted. I nodded. The manager grew serious. “This project is highly confidential. You won’t be able to return home or contact your family for the three years you’re overseas. Can you truly accept that?” “Yes, I’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning.”

At ten that night, I went downstairs. Ethan was leaning against his car, smoking. Cigarette butts littered the ground. The crimson glow of the cigarette reflected on his face, his brows deeply furrowed. In five years of dating, I’d only seen him smoke twice. The first time was the year we graduated, when his parents forced him to go back to his hometown for development. And I only wanted to stay and be with Stella. Ethan then, just like now, smoked one cigarette after another. In the end, he chose me. And now, what choice was he making? I didn’t want to think about it. Seeing me, he immediately put out his cigarette and walked toward me, taking my suitcase. “Just got back and they’re already making you work late. Your company is so inconsiderate.” I replied, trying to sound normal: “There was a lot to report.” He opened the passenger door, and I bent down to get in. A faint perfume scent wafted into my nose. I stiffened. That scent was Stella’s favorite perfume. I instinctively turned my head, my gaze falling into the seat crevice. A lip balm had fallen there. It was the one I’d given Stella last month. He walked around to the driver’s seat, saw the lip balm in my hand, and paused. The car was silent for two seconds. Then he smiled. “Stella must have left it when she rode in my car today. I’ll take it back to her later.” I stared at the lip balm: “Did Stella often sit in the passenger seat when I was away?” His motion of buckling his seatbelt paused. He turned to look at me, his eyes unreadable. Then he reached out, touched my head, and chuckled softly: “What, are you getting jealous of Stella now?” I didn’t smile. His tone became serious. “You wanted Stella and I to get along, right? So sometimes she rides in my car.” He added at the end: “If you don’t like it, I won’t let her sit there anymore.” I didn’t want to hear anymore, so I closed my eyes: “I’m tired.” He gazed at me for two seconds, then said: “Last night, did you… scroll past anything?” I opened my eyes and looked at him: “Scroll past what?” He was silent for a moment, then gave a light laugh: “Nothing. I just noticed you don’t look well today, your eyes are red.” I closed my eyes again. “I was too excited last night, didn’t sleep a wink.” He started the car, shaking his head resignedly: “Still acting like a kid.” Then he casually turned on the air conditioning. It was two degrees higher than usual. Whenever Stella rode in the car with us, the AC always had to be two degrees higher. Because she got cold easily. When we got home, Stella was already waiting at the door. “Must be starving, right? Hurry and wash your hands, dinner’s ready.” I walked straight inside. The table was filled with all my favorite dishes. I still sat in my usual spot. Stella was on my left, Ethan on my right. Both simultaneously put food on my plate. “Luna, your favorite steak.” “Your favorite chicken wings.” For a moment, I was disoriented, as if I was back in the past. But reality told me. Everything had changed. So many words were stuck in my throat. I wanted to tell them, I saw the confession thread. I wanted to ask them, why did you do this? But the words stayed unspoken. The meal was tasteless. Until Stella raised her glass and looked at me: “Luna, let’s raise a toast.” She tilted her head back and drank. “Welcome home, Luna.” Then, she glanced at Ethan: “You two have been together for so long. I used to be against it, but now I’m not. Pick a date and get married.”

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I was the adopted daughter of the Ford family, New York’s most prominent household. No one knew that every night, I would spend the hours entangled with my uncle, Mark Ford. We had been in a secret relationship for three years, hidden from the world. In the attic, in his car, in his bedroom or mine. We did countless secret and wild things. “Mark, I…” The man, usually so cold and reserved, suddenly grabbed my waist, thrusting forcefully, and my words were shattered. Sweat dripped from his chiseled face onto my neck as I was sent soaring once more. After we were thoroughly satisfied, Mark held me close, speaking lazily. “Grandpa arranged an engagement for me.” “She and I are just putting on a show for Grandpa. Be a good girl, don’t get mad, okay?” I froze. He didn’t know that in two weeks, my biological parents would be taking me abroad. Aurora POV I was the only daughter of the Ford family, New York’s most prominent household. But no one knew that every night, I would spend the hours entangled with my uncle, Mark Ford. We had been in a secret relationship for three years, hidden from the world. In the attic, in his car, in his bedroom or mine. We did countless secret and wild things. “Mark, I…” The man, usually so cold and reserved, suddenly grabbed my waist, thrusting forcefully, and my words were shattered. Sweat dripped from his chiseled face onto my neck as I was sent soaring once more. After we were thoroughly satisfied, Mark held me close, speaking lazily. “Grandpa arranged an engagement for me.” “She and I are just putting on a show for Grandpa. Be a good girl, don’t get mad, okay?” His large hand casually stroked me, as if everything was under his control. I was exhausted and didn’t say anything. Yesterday, I had excitedly run to Mark’s study, wanting to tell him something important. As I reached the study door, I heard voices from inside. It was Mark talking with a few of his friends. I considerately didn’t interrupt. But I was so eager to tell him, I couldn’t bring myself to leave, so I waited outside the door. “Fiona Caldwell is coming back soon, Mark. How are you going to deal with Aurora?” “Yeah, you and Fiona grew up together, and you’ve been waiting for her all these years. The alliance between the Ford and Caldwell families is crucial. If Aurora finds out, can she handle it?” In that moment, I was completely stunned. Who were they talking about? Me? What alliance? A rush of blood went to my head, and my ears buzzed. Then another voice asked. “Didn’t you say she was just a plaything, and you’d get rid of her once Fiona came back?” “You even stayed in New York for college instead of going abroad, all for Fiona!” Mark’s unhurried voice drifted out. “Aurora is obedient, easy to placate. She won’t cause trouble.” I heard it. He said my name. They were talking about me. To me, the world might as well have ended. I wasn’t a true member of the Ford family. I had grown up in an orphanage. At the orphanage, I was always small and frail, easily bullied. One day, Mark’s older brother, Richard Ford, visited the orphanage for a charity event. He saw me being bullied by other kids and felt sorry for me. Richard and his wife, Eleanor, didn’t have children. So, Richard discussed it with Eleanor, and they adopted me. I was only eight years old that year. My adopted parents hadn’t expected that shortly after adopting me, they would receive a confidential research assignment that required them to be isolated for five years. Though Grandpa Robert, the Ford family patriarch, didn’t object to his son adopting a girl, he never quite warmed up to me, his non-blood-related granddaughter, and largely ignored me. Seeing that I had no one watching over me, the staff didn’t treat me well. They took advantage of my young age and innocence. When my adopted parents were home, they would pretend to be kind to me, but as soon as they left for their research, my treatment immediately declined. Breakfast was often stale leftovers, and no one made sure I had warm clothes in winter. Once, I developed a fever, and it took three days for anyone to notice. That winter was particularly cold. I was playing in the Ford family’s yard when I accidentally fell into the artificial lake by the rockery. The water was deep and bitingly cold. I struggled to swim but couldn’t surface. Just as I thought I was about to sink, Mark happened to come home. The young man saw me in the water and jumped into the icy cold without hesitation, pulling me to shore. Mark noticed that his non-blood-related niece was even thinner than when she first arrived. Mark was furious. The usually quiet heir punished the negligent staff and even fired the butler. He told everyone that I was the only daughter of the Ford family, and anyone who dared to disrespect me was disrespecting him.

Aurora POV From then on, he personally took care of my every need, meticulously. He insisted on coming home every weekend to help me with homework, explain complex math problems, and gently pat my back to soothe me when I cried. Even after high school, Mark, who was supposed to study abroad according to the Ford family’s arrangements, stubbornly stayed, attending a local university. I once asked Mark why he didn’t go abroad. Mark poked my nose and said, “I was afraid you’d be home alone and hide away crying again.” It’s fair to say I was raised by Mark. I was the princess he held in the palm of his hand. My walk-in closet was filled with designer brands’ latest seasonal collections, limited-edition bags, and jewelry worth millions. On my eighteenth birthday, Mark allowed me to drink alcohol. Drunk, I clung to Mark and wouldn’t let go. After Mark carried me back to my bedroom, he picked up a stack of my sketches from my desk and looked at them. My drunkenness instantly faded. I rushed over and snatched the drawings away. “Don’t get the wrong idea, I just drew them for fun.” I thought Mark would despise me, after all, it was morally wrong. But to my surprise, Mark pinned me between his arms, a slight smirk on his lips, and looked at me gently. “You like me that much?” In my panic, I forgot to answer, just staring blankly at him, my innocent eyes blinking. Moments later, a flood of kisses descended upon me. And then we were together. Mark had been my uncle for eleven years, and finally, on my eighteenth birthday, he became my boyfriend. But no one in the Ford family knew about it. We often spent the nights together, returning to our own rooms before everyone else woke up in the morning. This secret relationship lasted for three years. During those three years, Mark’s affection for me grew even stronger. Gifting jewelry and designer bags was just routine for him, and he also bought plenty of limited-edition sports cars, yachts, and villas. No one in all of New York dared to look down on me anymore. Mark said that once he inherited the family business and fully took over the company, he would help me become independent from the Ford family, change my name, and then publicly announce our relationship. I believed him implicitly. In my twenty-one years of life, Mark was everything to me. The conversation in the study continued. One friend scoffed, “Even the easiest woman to please can be stubborn when it comes to love. If she makes a fuss, it’ll be a mess. Aurora has been in love with you for so many years, you’d better be careful.” Another asked, “You haven’t actually fallen for her, have you? Everyone in New York knows how much you spoil your little niece.” My heart lurched violently, and I placed all my hope on Mark’s next words. However, my hope was quickly extinguished by him. “How could I? Fiona wasn’t here, and I was bored. Just messing around with a young girl.” I didn’t hear anything else they said afterward; that one sentence filled my mind. My body swayed, and I almost collapsed. I had originally wanted to tell Mark that my biological parents had found me yesterday. It was a family even more prominent than the Fords. Once I returned to my biological parents, I would no longer be his niece. His father wouldn’t be able to look down on my background anymore. We would have no more obstacles. We could be together openly. But I never expected that I was merely a distraction for him when the person he loved wasn’t around. Mark, you truly played me for a fool. Now, it seemed there was no need to tell him this news. After a moment to compose myself, I silently left the study. Wiping my tears, I called my biological father. “Dad, I’ll come home to the Sterling family. I’m ready to leave immediately.” “That’s wonderful, Aurora!” My dad was ecstatic. “I’ll start your paperwork right away. A private jet will pick you up in two weeks!”

Aurora POV The next day at noon, my adopted parents, Richard and Eleanor, surprisingly returned. I was delighted because their research assignments were demanding, and I rarely got to see them. Eleanor embraced me the moment she walked in, her voice soft and full of emotion. “Aurora, your biological parents met with us early this morning.” It turned out that after learning I was willing to go home yesterday, my biological parents had flown specifically to their research institute this morning to meet them. Richard patted my shoulder. “Aurora, Dad checked it out. Your biological parents are wonderful people, and they’ve been searching for you all these years. It’s a good thing you found them, and we’re happy for you too.” He paused, a flicker of guilt in his eyes. “We were so busy with work all these years and didn’t take proper care of you. We always felt we let you down. Now that you can return to them, we’re relieved.” My tears welled up. My adopted parents had given me the best they could within their means. Regardless, I was grateful. “No matter where I am, you’ll always be my parents. You took me from the orphanage and gave me a home.” They both smiled. Eleanor wiped my tears. “Good, good. Come back and visit often when you have time.” Richard asked, “When are you leaving?” “In two weeks.” “Who’s leaving?” Mark walked in, habitually running his hand through my hair. My heart tightened. Why was he home so early today? Eleanor was about to speak, but I quickly interjected, “Nothing, we were just talking about a movie. The main character leaves in two weeks.” My adopted parents looked surprised and exchanged glances. They clearly didn’t understand why I wasn’t telling Mark. But they didn’t say anything more. Mark had only asked casually and didn’t think much of it. He quickly sat down and started talking about other things with Richard. I went back to my room. I called for the butler. “Please sell all my jewelry and bags.” The butler nodded and soon had people come to collect and itemize everything. I stood in my empty walk-in closet, lost in thought, when a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around me from behind. “What are you thinking about?” I instinctively pulled away, stepping back two paces. “You’ve been smoking again. It smells awful.” Mark didn’t seem to care. He pulled a cigarette from his pocket, lit it nonchalantly, scanned the room, and his gaze finally settled on me. “Why are you getting rid of all these things?” I avoided his gaze. “I don’t like them anymore.” Mark smirked. “Then buy new ones.” He exhaled a puff of smoke, his expression growing a little more serious. “Fiona is coming over tonight. We’re having dinner at home.” He reached out and lifted my chin, making me look him in the eye. “Be a good girl, don’t make a scene.” So, he had rushed home early today specifically to warn me. The smoke made my eyes tear up, and I turned my head away, coughing violently. Mark watched me silently, seemingly waiting for my response. “Don’t worry, I won’t make a scene.” I said, still coughing. A faint smile finally appeared on Mark’s face. He put out his cigarette, ruffled my hair, and then went to pour me a glass of water. “Drink slowly. You cough like this from a little smoke. You’ll have to get used to it.” Get used to it? I took the glass but didn’t reply. There wouldn’t be a “later.” Before dinner, Fiona arrived. She lived up to her name. Tall, strikingly beautiful, clearly a socialite. Fiona and my adopted parents obviously knew each other. After a few pleasantries, she locked her gaze on me, smiling sweetly. “This must be Aurora, right?” I wasn’t in the mood and gave a few perfunctory responses. Mark came forward, saying softly with a smile, “Fiona, this is Aurora, my niece.” Ever since Mark and I got together, he never liked me calling him uncle, nor did he ever refer to me as his niece. I hadn’t expected him to change so quickly when faced with Fiona. I pulled a faint smile. Fiona, however, playfully pushed Mark, frowning. “You’ve been smoking again? It smells bad. You should quit.” Mark nodded. “Okay, I’ll quit.” With that, he tossed the half-empty pack of cigarettes from his pocket into the trash can. My hand, holding the water glass, froze. Everything became clear with a comparison. I had countless times asked Mark to quit smoking. Because I thought smoking was bad for his lungs, and because I truly couldn’t stand the smell of smoke. But each time, Mark would look at me like I was an ignorant child, gently ruffling my hair, as if he was tolerating my immaturity. Then he would still smoke, telling me to get used to it. Yet, a casual remark from Fiona, and he smiled, threw away the cigarettes, and quit. The result of the comparison was so stark, I had to admit it, however unwillingly.

Aurora POV At dinner, I looked at the table full of seafood and immediately understood. Mark had specifically instructed the kitchen to prepare it for Fiona. Fiona loved seafood. Mark remembered Fiona’s preferences, her eating habits, and even arranged everything in advance. His thoughtfulness, it turned out, was never exclusively for me. I had misunderstood him for so many years. Fortunately, today I finally understood completely. I wouldn’t misunderstand him again. At the dinner table, Fiona was poised and articulate, chatting happily with my adopted parents. Mark sat beside Fiona, occasionally serving her food, his demeanor natural and intimate. I quietly ate my dinner, barely speaking throughout the meal. After dinner, Fiona stayed for a little while longer before getting up to leave. Mark picked up his car keys. “I’ll drive you.” Before leaving, Fiona added my contact details, smiling. “I’ll be coming over often from now on. Let’s keep in touch.” I nodded distractedly. After seeing them off, I returned to my room. My hand involuntarily clicked on Fiona’s Ins profile. Her earliest posts dated back to college. It turned out they had been together during their university years. Back then, they were inseparable, attending classes, going to the library, and traveling together every day. Their classmates called them the happiest couple. The Mark in the photos was a few years younger than he was now, but the smile in his eyes was more vibrant and alive than I had ever seen. For Fiona’s birthday, Mark rented an entire yacht and filled every corner with flowers. The caption read: The most romantic proposal rehearsal in the world. Someone said this was just a rehearsal, the real one would come later. I thought of the gifts I received on my birthdays. They were valuable, but they were always just bought and handed to me directly. He had never done anything so elaborate and romantic for me. On Valentine’s Day, Mark said he had a business trip and couldn’t be with me. It turned out he had taken Fiona to Iceland to see the aurora borealis. Mark had waited for several days with her until the most spectacular aurora appeared. The caption read: He said he would show me the most beautiful light in the world, and he did. On Fiona’s graduation day, Mark held a large bouquet of flowers and embraced her. All the comments below were well wishes, calling them a couple blessed by God. Mark had also come to my university graduation ceremony. But he sat in the parents’ section, his identity as my uncle. After graduation, Fiona returned to her family’s company to work. Later, the Caldwell family expanded into overseas markets, and Fiona had to go abroad to manage their overseas expansion. Mark couldn’t convince her to stay, and they had a big argument, eventually breaking up. And the time they broke up was right before my eighteenth birthday. So, I really was just Mark’s replacement. I felt a coldness on my face; tears had streamed down at some point. I was about to close Fiona’s Ins when one post caught my eye. It was last Christmas. Fiona had posted a limited-edition handbag. The caption read: Considering someone flew halfway across the world to bring it, I’ll reluctantly accept it. I recognized that bag. It was a global limited edition, only one piece. I had also wanted it at the time, and Mark had flown to France overnight to get it for me. That bag had been sitting in my walk-in closet, and I had just had the butler take it to be sold this afternoon. How could a globally limited-edition bag appear on Fiona’s Ins? A knock sounded at the door. The butler came in to report, “Miss, all the jewelry and bags you asked me to handle this afternoon have been taken care of, but…” The butler paused, saying cautiously, “One of the bags was identified as a replica.” My heart jolted. “Which one?” My voice trembled slightly. The butler handed over the replica bag. I didn’t take it. I turned my head, averting my gaze. “Since it’s fake, just throw it away.” The butler quietly exited. The room fell silent again. The single, globally limited-edition authentic bag, Mark had given to Fiona. The one he gave me was fake. For so many years, I had lived under Mark’s protection, in a fairy tale. Now that the truth was revealed, I found how rotten the inside of this happy facade was. Mark had certainly been good to me, but today I finally understood that his kindness came with a condition. That was, it had to be in situations that didn’t conflict with Fiona. My place and Fiona’s place in Mark’s heart had always been clear. That night, Mark didn’t come home. This was the first time he had spent a night away without a reason since we’d been together. In the past, no matter how busy he was or how late his business engagements ran, as long as he wasn’t on a business trip, he would always come back to me. He used to say, “Aurora is afraid of the dark, afraid of being alone. You’ll be scared if I’m not home.” But with Fiona back, he had forgotten all of it. I turned off the lights, lying in the dark with my eyes open, not sleeping all night. The next day was the anniversary of Richard adopting me, which we designated as my birthday. From the age of eight, every year on my birthday, Mark would personally organize it. He’d prepare gifts in advance, invite many guests, and throw a grand celebration. But this year, Mark forgot.

Aurora POV Without Mark’s planning, my birthday this year was much quieter. I only invited a few close friends. However, Richard and Eleanor specifically stayed home to celebrate with me this time. To avoid any discussion about my background, my biological parents, Arthur and Sophia, and my brother, Leo, purposely didn’t show up, only calling early in the morning and sending numerous gifts. A good friend asked as soon as she walked in, “Where’s your uncle?” I said, “He’s busy.” My friend added, “He never missed your birthday before.” I smiled and didn’t answer. I had seen on Fiona’s Ins that Mark was out shopping with her. In the past, no matter how good Mark was to me, he would never go shopping with me. When I asked him to go shopping, he would always ruffle my head and say that he’d have someone buy whatever I wanted because shopping was too tiring. But now, Fiona wanted him to shop, and he did. Although this year’s birthday wasn’t as extravagant as previous years, with the company and blessings of my dearest friends and family, I was still very happy. Richard personally cut the first slice of cake. My friends laughed and joked, teasing me playfully. It turned out that my happiness wasn’t contingent on Mark. Mark returned very late that day. Fiona had kept him company all day. When he entered the house, the guests had already left, only a pile of unopened gifts remained in the living room. He looked at the pile of gifts, puzzled, and asked the butler, “What’s going on?” The butler respectfully replied, “These are Miss Aurora’s birthday gifts.” Mark froze. Listening to their conversation, I turned and went back to my room. Mark seemed annoyed and quickly went upstairs. Without knocking, he walked straight into my room, only to find me busy, head down. “What are you doing?” Mark embraced me from behind. But I was hit by the unfamiliar scent of women’s perfume on him. I pushed Mark, but couldn’t get him off. Mark looked down and saw I was packing things. Those sketches of him, our secretly taken photos, my romance diary, and the small wooden carving Mark had made for me. All were being packed into a box. Mark panicked, hugging me tighter, and gently coaxed, “Are you mad? Are you taking it out on these things?” My tone was perfectly normal. “I’m just putting them away. Ms. Caldwell often comes over. What if she sees them and gets the wrong idea?” Mark, convinced I was just jealous of Fiona, relaxed. His hand restlessly explored under my clothes. “It was my fault for missing your birthday. I’ll make up for the gift next time. Don’t take it out on these things. What kind of gift do you want?” I didn’t want to waste any more words on the subject. “Anything is fine.” Mark lowered his head, trying to kiss me. I turned my head away, reminding him, “My parents are home. Be careful not to get caught. You should go back to your room.” Mark had no choice but to give up. Before leaving, he still seemed worried and picked up the box of packed drawings and carvings. “It’s safer if I keep these.” I watched his retreating back, gently clenching my hand. It was fine if he took that box. I didn’t need it anymore anyway. The next morning, my adopted parents rushed back to the research institute. In the afternoon, the butler informed me that Grandpa Robert was formally hosting the Caldwell family for dinner, and all Ford family members who could attend must be present. I had never been close to Grandpa and never actively went to the old mansion to bother him. But this time, I had to go, whether I wanted to or not. In the evening, I arrived at the old mansion. Fiona and her parents were there, and Mark was also present. I found a corner seat and sat down by myself. Grandpa Robert sat at the head of the table, chatting with Fiona’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell. “Mark and Fiona grew up together. I’ve been looking forward to their marriage for many years. When our two families unite, God will bless them.” Mr. Caldwell nodded repeatedly. “You’re right, these two children are a perfect match. Our Caldwell family feels the same way.” Mark unconsciously glanced at me. I was focused on eating fruit, not even lifting my head. As they spoke, Grandpa ordered someone to bring a delicate wooden box. The box opened, revealing a beautiful antique bracelet inside. I recognized that bracelet. Only the wife of the heir was permitted to wear it. My adopted father, Richard, was dedicated to scientific research and didn’t manage the family business, so my adopted mother, Eleanor, was never eligible to wear the bracelet. Once, I had even playfully asked Mark when I would be able to wear that bracelet. Mark had only ruffled my head and said, “You’re being naughty again.” It turned out he had never intended for me to wear that bracelet. Grandpa Robert smiled and called Fiona over, handing her the bracelet. “Fiona, from now on, you’ll be part of our family. Wear this bracelet.” Mr. Caldwell quickly said, “You’re too kind. It’s Fiona’s good fortune to marry into the Ford family.” Fiona happily accepted the bracelet and put it on. Then she turned and walked over to me, intimately taking my hand. “I’m only a few years older than Aurora. I’ll need your guidance in the future.” Her words were beautiful, her expression flawless. But her sharply manicured nails, hidden from others’ view, dug cruelly into my hand.

Aurora POV Blood immediately rushed to the surface. The pain was so intense that I instinctively shook off her hand. Fiona swayed backward, and the bracelet on her wrist hit the marble floor with a heavy clatter, shattering into several pieces. Silence fell across the room. Mark rushed to help Fiona up, his worry clearly visible. “Are you okay?” He glared at me. “Aurora!” I instinctively blurted out, “It wasn’t me, it was her.” “It’s not Aurora’s fault, I was just clumsy myself,” Fiona quickly interrupted me. “It’s just a shame about the bracelet.” Her eyes reddened as she apologized to Grandpa, appearing self-reproachful and wronged. Grandpa Robert angrily slammed his hand on the table. “Aurora was rude and made you suffer. How could it be your fault?” Mark looked at me, his face filled with disappointment. I opened my mouth, wanting to explain something, but facing the room full of accusing gazes, the words got stuck in my throat. No one saw the wound on my hand. Even though the injury was so obvious, blood dripping onto the floor. I was taken to the yard to be punished. It was the deep winter season, with temperatures dropping to below zero. My knees had suffered from the cold when I fell into the water as a child, making them sensitive to cold ever since. Kneeling on the icy, hard flagstones, the pain was excruciating. The coldness spread upwards from my knees, quickly permeating my entire body. I clenched my teeth, refusing to collapse. Beyond the wall, the old mansion was brightly lit and warm. Through the glass, I could see the scene inside. Mark was attentively serving Fiona food and pouring wine for her parents. Grandpa Robert looked kindly, Fiona looked bashful; they all seemed happy. Only I was kneeling in the snow. Throughout the entire night, Mark didn’t cast a single glance in my direction. Actually, Grandpa had never liked me, ever since I was a child. He thought I was of unknown origin, from a humble background, and would bring shame to the Ford family. When I was nine, I came to the old mansion to play and accidentally broke one of his antique vases. He also wanted to punish me by making me kneel. At that time, Mark pleaded for me. When his pleas failed, the young man simply took the punishment for me instead. Sixteen-year-old Mark knelt in the yard, his knees bruised and purple, but he turned back and smiled at me, who was secretly crying behind the door. He had clearly said then, Aurora, I’m here. I won’t let you be punished. I was cold and in pain. Perhaps I wasn’t a strong person. The pain stripped away my pride. I even thought, Mark, just look at me. If you just look at me, if you save me, I’ll forgive you. But then, Fiona’s laughter drifted from the window. Mark was leaning in, peeling shrimp for her. He didn’t see me, and I wasn’t in his heart. At this very moment, his eyes and heart were solely on Fiona. For more than ten years, Mark’s kindness to me had made him an indispensable part of my life. Cutting him out would kill me. But in this moment, I felt that the pain of cutting out Mark was far less than the pain in my knees, and even less than the pain in my heart. The night grew deeper, and the temperature continued to drop. My body began to shake uncontrollably, and my consciousness gradually blurred. I don’t remember when I passed out. When I woke up again, I was lying in my own bed. The butler said Mark had carried me back. I nodded faintly, saying nothing. What good was being carried back? He didn’t come when I was kneeling. He only remembered me when I collapsed. The family doctor examined me and said my old knee injury had worsened, and I had new injuries too. The doctor prescribed medication and advised me to rest well and stay warm. During my recovery, Mark never returned once. Lying in bed, I replayed the last three years’ events over and over again. Then, I had someone transfer all the sports cars, villas, and yachts Mark had given me back to his name. I didn’t want any of these things anymore. That day, Mark’s assistant suddenly arrived. “Miss Aurora, Mr. Ford asked me to bring you to him.” I asked, “Where?” The assistant said, “You’ll know when you get there.” From his demeanor, it seemed if I didn’t go, he would force me. My knee hadn’t fully healed, and walking still hurt. But I knew Mark’s temper. Not going would only cause more trouble. Helpless, I followed them into the car. The car drove to a private resort estate. A server led me through a long corridor to the door of a private room. Just as I was about to push the door open, I heard voices from inside. “Mark really spoils Fiona. Fiona just said one thing, ‘Your niece is still sick,’ and he brought your niece over.” Mark took a sip of wine. “My niece is ignorant. She hurt Fiona last time, but Fiona doesn’t blame her and even wants to bring her along to have fun.” Fiona smiled gracefully. “Aurora is still young. How could I blame her? Why isn’t she here yet? Could it be that she resents me because of what happened last time?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “418495”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

On our fifth wedding anniversary, I caught my husband kneeling in the VIP section of the mall, carefully helping his first love slip on a pair of flat shoes. The woman was five months pregnant, smiling sweetly at my husband. My hand trembled as I held the tray. The perfume bottle clinked against the glass with a sharp sound. He whipped around. The moment he recognized me, his smile froze. “What are you doing here?” He stood up, his tone thick with irritation at being caught. “Did you forget, Mr. Blackwell? I work here as a sales associate.” “Lillian just got back from overseas. Her husband passed away. I’m just helping her out.” He lowered his voice. “Don’t read into this.” I stared at the shoes he had put on her feet. Suddenly the two theater tickets in my purse felt like a joke. “Nathan,” I said. “Let’s get a divorce.” I stood at the counter on the first floor of One World Trade Center, pain shooting up from my heels. My calves felt like they were filled with lead. Today was my fifth wedding anniversary with Nathan Blackwell. In my purse were two theater tickets. I’d worked overtime for half a month straight, earned my full attendance bonus, just to afford them. Nathan used to love this play. But ever since his company in New York had grown and his net worth had skyrocketed, we hadn’t set foot in a theater together in three years. “Frost, what are you spacing out for? There’s a customer in the VIP lounge who wants to try the new perfume. Take this over there, quickly.” My manager pushed me from behind, her voice urgent. I responded and forced myself to focus, carrying the velvet tray toward the VIP area. As I approached the frosted glass door that stood slightly ajar, my feet froze in place. On the leather sofa in the lounge sat a pregnant woman. She was looking down at a product catalog, her long hair draped over her shoulders. Her profile was gentle, her entire demeanor radiating the kind of refinement that comes from being pampered. And Nathan was kneeling in front of her, holding a pair of flat shoes, carefully lifting her foot to change them for her. “These have soft soles. You’re not as mobile now. High heels will tire you out.” Nathan’s voice carried a tenderness I hadn’t heard in years. The woman laughed softly and touched her belly. “Nathan, you’re too anxious. The baby’s only five months along. It’s not that fragile.” “Lillian, how could I not worry about you?” Nathan looked up at her, his gaze so focused it made me jealous. My hand holding the tray trembled violently. The glass perfume bottle knocked against the edge of the tray with a sharp clink. Nathan turned at the sound. The smile on his face completely froze the moment he saw me. The air seemed to solidify. I looked at this man who’d shared my bed for five years and suddenly felt nauseous. Lillian. I knew that name all too well. She was Nathan’s first love. When he was at his lowest, struggling financially, she didn’t hesitate to leave the country and marry someone else. During the years she was gone, I’d been by Nathan’s side, soothing the hurt in his heart bit by bit. I’d stayed with him as he built his business, step by step, until now. The years Nathan’s company thrived happened to coincide with my brother’s serious illness. He needed ongoing hospital care and astronomical medical bills. I refused to be seen as a leech. I insisted on working, supporting my brother myself, not wanting to add any burden to Nathan. Because my background wasn’t impressive enough, I was afraid of embarrassing him. I kept myself hidden, careful not to draw attention. Few people knew I was Mrs. Blackwell. Only those close to Nathan knew. But even they looked down on me… I loved him. I didn’t mind the humiliation. I thought of him in everything. But what did I get in return? Lillian had come back, and she was pregnant. “What are you doing here?” Nathan stood up, his brow furrowing slightly. His tone instantly returned to its usual coldness, as if that tender, caring man moments ago had been my hallucination. I took a deep breath and forced a smile that looked worse than crying. “Did you forget, Mr. Blackwell? I work as a sales associate at this mall.” A flash of displeasure crossed Nathan’s face. He strode over to me and lowered his voice. “Lillian just got back to the country. Her husband died in an accident recently. She’s alone with a child on the way. It’s not easy. I’m just helping her out as an old friend. Don’t read into this.”

“An old friend?” I stared straight into his eyes, my gaze full of doubt. “So you need to personally change her shoes for her?” “Frost!” Nathan’s voice dropped noticeably. “Don’t make a scene in public.” Those words cut into my heart like a knife. Lillian stood up, supporting her waist, and walked to Nathan’s side. Her eyes looked timidly at me. “Frost, don’t misunderstand. Nathan only helped me because it’s hard for me to bend down. If it bothers you, I won’t ask him for help anymore.” “Lillian, sit down. Don’t stand.” Nathan immediately reached out to support her. When he turned to look at me, his eyes had gone completely cold. “Go back to work. We’ll talk when I get home tonight.” I watched their shoulders pressed together and suddenly felt like the two theater tickets in my purse were a joke. I set the tray down heavily on a nearby table. My voice was oddly calm. “Nathan, today is our wedding anniversary.” Nathan froze for a moment. Regret flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly covered by irritation. “I said we’ll talk when I get home. Lillian needs someone with her right now.” I didn’t say anything else. I turned around and walked out of the VIP area, step by step. The pain in my heels had gone numb. It was replaced by an unbearable ache in my chest. At eleven that night, I sat on the living room sofa. The two theater tickets I’d spent so much money on were torn to shreds, lying quietly in the trash can. The door lock turned. Nathan walked in, bringing with him a faint smell of disinfectant. “Why aren’t you asleep yet?” He loosened his tie and glanced at the cold food on the table, his brow furrowing. “You went to the hospital?” I caught the faint antiseptic smell on him. I didn’t look at him. My voice sounded especially jarring in the empty living room. Nathan’s movements paused. He walked over and sat across from me. “Lillian’s stomach wasn’t feeling well. I took her to the hospital for a checkup.” “Nathan, let’s get a divorce.” I raised my head and looked at him calmly. Nathan’s expression darkened instantly. He laughed coldly and leaned back against the sofa. “Frost, are you done throwing your tantrum? I told you, Lillian is a widow now, and she’s pregnant. What’s wrong with me helping her? Do you have to be this petty?” “You want to help her, does that require you to buy her a luxury apartment in the best part of New York?” I slapped a copy of a property purchase agreement on the table. I’d found it by accident in Nathan’s study that afternoon. Nathan’s expression shifted, but then he spoke defensively. “I used my personal funds for that apartment. I didn’t touch any of our marital assets. She just got back to the country. She needs somewhere to live, doesn’t she?” “Nathan, do you think I’m an idiot?” My eyes reddened. “Do you dare tell me that you and her are just friends?” Nathan fell silent. After a moment, he stood up and looked down at me. “Frost, the position of Mrs. Blackwell is yours. No one can take it from you. But I’m warning you, don’t go after Lillian. She can’t handle stress right now.” With that, he turned and walked into the guest room, slamming the door shut. I sat in the darkness. Finally, my tears fell. Turns out five years together couldn’t compete with one tear from his first love.

The next day, I went to work at the mall as usual. I hadn’t slept all night. My head felt heavy, and waves of nausea rolled through my stomach. I’d barely taken my position at the counter when a familiar figure approached. Lillian wore a loose silk dress and carried the limited edition handbag Nathan had bought her yesterday. She stopped in front of me with a smile. “Frost, Nathan told me your counter has great skincare. He asked me to come pick out a few sets.” I suppressed the nausea and handed her a product catalog with a blank expression. “Choose whatever you want, Ms. Reed.” But Lillian didn’t take it. Instead, she extended her pale wrist. “I’m pregnant. My skin is sensitive. You should test it for me.” I bit my lip and took out a bottle of serum. I dropped some on the back of my hand, preparing to apply it to Lillian’s wrist. Lillian suddenly leaned in close and laughed quietly, her voice low enough that only we could hear. “Frost, do you know? Last night when Nathan was in the guest room, he was actually on the phone with me the whole time. He said your marriage has been an empty shell for a long time. He never loved you.” My hand went rigid. “He also said that once I have the baby, he’ll give you some money and let you leave with dignity.” Lillian’s tone was full of a victor’s pride. My head buzzed. My fingers trembled. The glass bottle slipped from my hand and shattered against the glass counter with a crash, fragments scattering everywhere. “Ah!” Lillian suddenly screamed and clutched her hand, stumbling backward. Her eyes instantly reddened. “Frost, even if you’re angry at me, you can’t cut me with broken glass!” I froze. I hadn’t touched Lillian at all. Before I could explain, a cold voice cut through the crowd. “What’s going on?” Nathan appeared in a custom-tailored suit, striding toward us surrounded by a group of mall executives. He was here to inspect the World Trade Center today. The crowd automatically parted. Nathan’s eyes immediately found Lillian clutching her hand with tears streaming down her face. His expression changed drastically. He rushed over and pulled her into his arms. “Nathan, it hurts…” Lillian leaned against his chest and showed him her hand. There was indeed a small red mark on the back of her hand. Whether it came from glass fragments or she’d pinched herself, I couldn’t tell. Nathan’s eyes turned ice cold. He whipped his head toward me, his voice suppressing fury. “Frost, what did I warn you about last night?” His low roar drew attention from everyone around us. All my coworkers looked at this scene in confusion. “I didn’t touch her.” I straightened and looked directly into his eyes. My voice was hoarse. “If you didn’t touch her, how did she get hurt?” Nathan didn’t believe me. His eyes were full of disappointment and disgust. “You usually act out at home, fine. But now you’re hurting customers at work? Frost, when did you become so vicious?!” The onlookers gasped. This didn’t sound like a manager reprimanding an employee! I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood. When I ate instant noodles with him, when we lived in a basement apartment, he’d said I was the kindest woman in the world. Now that he was successful, one tear from his first love and I’d become a vicious, jealous wife… Nathan, who’d never publicly acknowledged my identity in five years, was now losing control in public over a scratch on Lillian’s hand, letting strangers speculate about our relationship. It felt like being slapped across the face. My cheeks burned. “Mr. Blackwell, this might be a misunderstanding…” My manager stepped forward, trying to smooth things over. “A misunderstanding?” Nathan laughed coldly, his eyes boring into me. “Apologize.” I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. “I told you. I didn’t do it. I won’t apologize.” “Frost, don’t make me humiliate you in public.” Nathan stepped closer and lowered his voice so only I could hear. “If you don’t apologize, you’re leaving the World Trade Center today. And that brother of yours in the hospital? He won’t be able to use any of my resources again.” My whole body shook. I looked at him in disbelief. He was threatening me with my brother’s life! For Lillian, he was willing to push me to the brink! My heart felt like it was being crushed by an invisible hand. The pain made it hard to breathe. All around me, coworkers and customers watched like it was a show. Their whispered conversations rose like a tide, drowning me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. When I opened them again, the light in my eyes had completely died. I bent at the waist and bowed deeply to Lillian. My voice was wooden. “I’m sorry, Ms. Reed. It was my carelessness.” Lillian hid in Nathan’s arms, a barely perceptible smile playing at her lips. But her voice remained aggrieved. “It’s fine. You didn’t mean it. Nathan, let’s go. My stomach feels a little off.” Nathan immediately grew concerned. He wrapped his arm around Lillian’s waist and turned to leave without giving me a single extra glance. I maintained my bowed position until their figures completely disappeared from view. I slowly straightened. My stomach churned. I covered my mouth and rushed to the restroom. Leaning over the sink, I dry-heaved for a long time but couldn’t bring anything up. I looked up at the pale, disheveled woman in the mirror. She suddenly seemed like a complete stranger. I took out my phone and called the hospital. “Dr. Stevens, how much more do we need for my brother’s medical bills?” After hanging up, I leaned against the cold tile wall and slowly slid to the floor. Nathan, since you’re this heartless, there’s nothing left between us worth holding onto.

After apologizing at the mall that day, I never spoke to Nathan again. I quit my job at the mall. During the day, I worked at a coffee shop. At night, I promoted drinks at a bar. I needed to save up enough for my brother’s medical expenses as quickly as possible and break free from Nathan’s control completely. Two weeks of nonstop work made me lose a lot of weight. Clothes that used to fit now hung loosely on my frame. Late one night, I dragged my exhausted body through the front door. The living room light was on. Nathan sat on the sofa, his expression dark enough to drip water. “You’ve been leaving early and coming home late for two weeks. What kind of tantrum are you throwing now?” Nathan slammed the documents in his hand onto the table. “You quit the mall too. Frost, are you trying to test my limits?” I didn’t stop changing my shoes. I didn’t even lift my eyelids. “Didn’t you not want me there anyway? I’m just doing what you wanted.” My cold attitude stung Nathan. He shot up and walked over to me, grabbing my wrist. “If you need money, why won’t you ask me? I’m your husband!” “Husband?” I laughed softly and looked up at him. “The husband who threatened me with my brother’s life?” Nathan froze. Regret flickered across his face. He softened his tone and tried to take my hand. “I was impulsive that day. I’ve already transferred this month’s medical expenses to the hospital account. Quit the bar job tomorrow. That kind of place isn’t suitable for you.” “No need.” I pulled my hand back. My voice was as flat as still water. “I haven’t used your money all these years. This time is no different. I’ll pay you back every cent.” Nathan’s brow furrowed again. He was about to lose his temper when the guest room door suddenly opened. Lillian walked out wearing an oversized men’s dress shirt, rubbing her eyes. Her voice was soft. “Nathan, you’re home? I’m a little thirsty.” My eyes fell on that shirt. It was Nathan’s favorite shirt. Even the housekeeper had to be careful when ironing it. Nathan noticed my gaze. He looked somewhat uncomfortable as he explained. “Lillian’s new place just finished renovations. The formaldehyde levels are too high, not good for pregnant women. I’m letting her stay here temporarily.” “Temporarily?” I looked around. The living room now had Lillian’s favorite lilies. Lillian’s maternity pillow was tossed on the sofa. Even the cup on the table had been replaced with Lillian’s personal mug. This wasn’t temporary. This was an invasion of my territory. “Also, the guest room mattress is too soft. Lillian’s back hurts when she sleeps on it. Move to the guest room and give her the master bedroom.” Nathan spoke in a tone that suggested this was completely reasonable. I looked at him. I suddenly found it funny. This was the man I’d loved with everything I had for five years. For another woman, he was trampling my dignity into the ground step by step. “Fine.” I didn’t make a scene. I simply nodded calmly. Nathan froze. The next day, I moved my things into the cramped guest room. When I came home from work that evening, my steps stopped short near the trash can. In the trash lay a pair of shattered ceramic mugs. They were cheap, the edges chipped with peeling paint. Five years ago, when we’d just gotten together, we’d bought these matching couple’s mugs from a street vendor for ten dollars. Nathan had pointed at those mugs and sworn he’d treasure me for the rest of his life. “Oh, Frost, you’re home.” Lillian came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of fruit. She glanced at the trash can and said casually, “Those two mugs were so broken and old. They really didn’t match the decor. I threw them out. You don’t mind, do you?” I crouched down, my hands trembling as I reached for the fragments. The sharp ceramic edges cut my finger. Blood immediately welled up, dripping onto the white shards, a shocking sight. The front door opened. Nathan walked in. Seeing this scene, he strode over and grabbed my hand. “Are you crazy? Why are you picking up garbage?!” “Garbage?” I looked up, my eyes red, staring at him intently. “Nathan, this was the first gift you ever gave me.” Nathan paused, his eyes falling on the pile of fragments. He seemed to finally remember something. But he quickly covered it up, his tone impatient. “It’s just a broken mug. It doesn’t matter. Tomorrow I’ll have my assistant buy you a set of Hermès tableware from the boutique. Don’t make such a big fuss over this junk and scare Lillian.” I looked at his cold face. Suddenly I laughed. I laughed so hard tears streamed down my face. “You’re right.” I yanked my hand back violently, letting blood drip onto the floor. Right in front of Nathan, I picked up the largest fragment I’d been holding and threw it hard back into the trash. “It is garbage. Should have been thrown out long ago.” Along with my pathetic devotion from these five years. All of it should be discarded. An inexplicable rage rose in Nathan’s chest. “Frost, who are you putting on this show for?! Keep treating me with this attitude, and don’t blame me for being heartless!” I looked at his twisted face, feeling more and more cold toward this five-year relationship. I didn’t say another word. I walked past him and went straight to my room. The moment the door closed, I heard Lillian’s gentle voice comforting him outside. He’d already become heartless long ago.

My brother Sebastian’s condition suddenly deteriorated. He needed a bone marrow transplant immediately. The surgery plus post-op anti-rejection treatment would cost at least eight hundred thousand dollars. I went to every lending company. I even tried to sell our family’s old house. But the money still wasn’t enough. The hospital notified me that if I couldn’t pay within three days, the surgery would be postponed indefinitely. I had no choice but to go to Nathan. His phone went straight to voicemail every time I called. I had to call his assistant and learned that Nathan was hosting a dinner tonight at Nightfall, New York’s most exclusive private club. When I arrived at the private room, the lighting was dim and cigarette smoke hung in the air. Nathan sat in the main seat. Lillian was leaning against him, holding a glass of juice. Around them sat a circle of Nathan’s business associates, laughing and talking. The door to the private room opened. Every eye turned to me. I wore a faded old jacket. My hair was messy. My face was pale as paper. I looked completely out of place in this decadent setting. “Well, if it isn’t Mrs. Blackwell. What are you doing here dressed like that?” One of the wealthy men who’d always looked down on me spoke mockingly. “What are you talking about? Can’t you see who Mr. Blackwell is holding? I have been saying all along, only someone like Lillian, a true socialite, is worthy of our Mr. Blackwell.” “What is Frost? A sales associate. Like she belongs in our circle.” Another person chimed in, drawing laughter. “Mr. Blackwell, you should have listened to us long ago. Dump this sales girl already! She’s an embarrassment to you!” Nathan frowned, looking at me with clear displeasure. “What are you doing here? Who let you in?” I ignored the mockery and walked straight up to Nathan. My voice was hoarse. “Nathan, Sebastian’s condition got worse. He needs eight hundred thousand for surgery. Can you… lend it to me?” Nathan laughed coldly. He pushed Lillian aside and leaned forward to look at me. “Lend? Frost, weren’t you so proud a few days ago? Didn’t you say you wouldn’t spend a single cent of my money? What happened? Can’t keep up the act anymore?” I bit my lip hard. Humiliation gnawed at my heart like a venomous snake. But for my brother’s sake, I had to endure it. “I’m begging you. I’ll pay you back for sure.” “Pay me back? With what? By selling drinks at a bar?” Nathan’s words stabbed at my pain like knives. The laughter around us grew louder. Lillian tugged at Nathan’s sleeve, looking understanding. “Nathan, Frost is desperate. It’s someone’s life. Just help her.” Nathan patted Lillian’s hand. His gaze returned to me, carrying a hint of cruelty. “Fine. Since Lillian’s pleading for you, I’ll give you the money.” He poured a glass of red wine and pushed it to the edge of the table. “That day at the mall, you frightened Lillian. Then at home, you kept giving me attitude and making Lillian uncomfortable.” “Today, in front of everyone here, kneel down and pour Lillian a drink. Consider it a formal apology. As long as you drink it, I’ll have finance transfer eight hundred thousand to the hospital account immediately.” The room went silent. Everyone stared at me like I was part of a show. My whole body went stiff. I looked at Nathan in disbelief. He wanted me to kneel in front of all these people and pour a drink for his mistress? He wanted to crush what little dignity I had left under his heel! “What? You’re not willing?” Nathan looked at me coldly. “If you’re not willing, get out. Don’t ruin everyone’s fun.” Tears welled in my eyes, but I forced them back. An image of my brother in the ICU, tubes running through his body, flashed through my mind. What was dignity? Compared to life, it was worthless. I took a deep breath. My legs bent. I dropped to my knees on the cold marble floor with a thud. A few sharp intakes of breath sounded around me. Even the wealthy man looked away, unable to watch. With trembling hands, I picked up the glass of red wine and held it up to Lillian. My voice was numb, devoid of any inflection. “Ms. Reed, I’m sorry.” Triumph flashed in Lillian’s eyes. She reached out to take the glass. Just as our hands were about to touch, Lillian suddenly cried out. Her wrist twisted. The entire glass of red wine splashed across my face and body. The red liquid ran down my hair, as glaring as blood. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Frost. My hand slipped.” Lillian covered her mouth, putting on a look of panic. Nathan immediately grabbed Lillian’s hand to check it anxiously. “She’s definitely fine. Are you okay? You’re pregnant. Be careful.” From start to finish, he never once glanced at me, kneeling on the floor, completely humiliated. After confirming Lillian was fine, Nathan pulled a bank card from his wallet and tossed it at my face like he was dismissing a beggar. The sharp edge of the card grazed my cheek, leaving a red mark, before falling to the floor. “The password is Lillian’s birthday. Take the money and get out. Stop embarrassing me.” Nathan’s voice was utterly ruthless. I slowly lowered my head and picked up the wine-stained bank card. I didn’t wipe the wine from my face. I didn’t look at Nathan again. Supporting myself on the table, I stood up and dragged my stiff legs one step at a time out of the room. The moment the door closed, I heard Lillian’s sweet voice inside. “Nathan, weren’t you too hard on her?” “It’s the punishment she deserves.” Nathan’s voice held no warmth at all. I leaned against the hallway wall, gasping for air. My heart felt like it was splitting apart. Nathan, what you owe me, I don’t want it anymore. Consider this eight hundred thousand the price for my five years of youth. From now on, we’re even.

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When I was seven months pregnant, I noticed Smith had a new female friend. They talked about everything, sharing an incredible, unspoken understanding. Every day, Smith would buy two bouquets of roses—one for me, and one for her. But there was never anything overtly out of line. Until that woman asked him, “If you had met me first, would you have married me?” Smith didn’t answer. Instead, he smoked on the balcony all night. Smith was completely distracted today. He looked like he was about to say something several times, but then he’d swallow the words. Finally, I spoke up, “Is something wrong?” Smith sighed, “I need to go on a business trip, to the next city over. I’ll be back tomorrow. But I can’t leave you alone! Forget it, I’ll send someone else!” As he spoke, I watched him, seeing how earnestly he tried to convince me. He met my gaze directly, not flinching. He asked, puzzled, “What’s wrong?” I shook my head. “Nothing.” I told him, “You should go.” “What about you, all alone?” “I’ll have my mom come stay with me.” Ever since I got pregnant, Smith had been incredibly attentive. Especially as my belly grew, he was always worried about me being home alone. He canceled many social engagements just to be with me. “What if something happens and no one’s around? “I’ll be worried sick if I’m out anyway, so it’s better if I just don’t go.” Even if he absolutely had to go out, he’d at least wait for my mom to arrive, giving her countless instructions to take good care of me. It got to the point where my mom would laugh, “She’s my own daughter! Do you think I’d let anything happen to her?” But today, he only hesitated for two seconds before nodding. “Alright then, take care of yourself. I’ll be back as soon as possible. Call me if anything happens!” He left in a hurry, only grabbing a change of clothes before rushing out the door. I sat still, not moving. Even when he turned back to look at me, I smiled and waved. After the door closed, I still didn’t move, but the rigid posture I’d held relaxed. Smith was acting strangely. Everything about him was off. But I didn’t say a single extra word, nor did I ask a single extra question. Because I knew where he was going and who he was going to see. At first, I didn’t know the woman’s name. I only knew her last name was Clement, and Smith called her Ms. Clement. The first time I saw her was a year ago, before I was pregnant. I was waiting for Smith at a new coffee shop downstairs from his office. I hadn’t told him I was coming, planning to call him around lunchtime. But then he suddenly walked in. The receptionist, who had been lounging lazily, straightened up. Smith nodded to her, and she smiled, giving him an OK sign. It was an unspoken understanding. I’ve always found that kind of unspoken understanding between a man and a woman terrifying. It makes them both mistakenly believe they’re destined to be together. But at that time, the strange feeling only flickered in my mind, and I didn’t think much of it. Later, Smith saw me and looked surprised. He asked what I was doing there. I said, “Waiting for you to have lunch.” “Why didn’t you call me?” “I didn’t want to disturb your work!” I asked him, “Why did you come down?” He rubbed his temples, sighing, “Work stuff, it’s really annoying. Just came down to walk around and grab a coffee. Their cookies here are pretty good, you should try some.” As he spoke, he raised his hand, “Ms. Clement, another order of cookies, please!” Meeting the woman’s questioning gaze, he smiled and introduced me, “My wife!” They were both completely at ease that day. Smith introduced me naturally. Clement greeted me openly, even comping our order. Smith said the coffee here was authentic and quite good the one time he tried it, so his company’s afternoon tea was now ordered from this place. That’s how they got to know each other. Back then, I thought they were just a simple shop owner and customer. I didn’t know that those delicious cookies weren’t actually for sale at their shop. Nor did I know that Clement would text Smith, asking him: “If you had met me first, would you have married me?”

Smith texted me at ten o’clock that night. He said he had just finished working and arrived at his hotel. He said he was too tired to video call me today. He told me to take care of myself and call him if anything happened. I replied to each message, telling him not to worry, that I was fine. I asked the coffee shop barista, “Where’s Ms. Clement? She’s not here?” The barista, a simple and good-hearted guy, saw my familiar tone and smiled. “She went out, just left! It’s her birthday today, so she must be on a date with her boyfriend. She was carrying a huge bouquet of roses, so romantic!” I nodded, got my coffee to go, and left. This city is huge; finding two people is incredibly difficult. But Smith had bought me a smartwatch with call functions. I’d slipped it into his laptop bag before he left. He bought it for me when I was four months pregnant. I’m the kind of person who gets really severe morning sickness. Up until my fourth month of pregnancy, my weight was decreasing, not increasing. I didn’t know I was already anemic, nor did I know I would faint in a mall due to poor ventilation. Smith was terrified. His hands were still trembling when I woke up. That watch was for monitoring my health and tracking my real-time location. It was expensive, so its GPS accuracy was extremely high. Just like now, it had been at a hotel on the twelfth floor for three hours. I didn’t rush over that night. My due date was only twenty-three days away, and I still had to prioritize myself. I threw out the coffee, drank some milk, and lay on the soft bed, listening to white noise for sleep. But even so, I couldn’t sleep, just like that night over a month ago. That was the first time I snooped through Smith’s phone, because he was so agitated. He cut his hand while peeling an apple for me. He dropped and broke a glass while pouring me water. He slammed his foot into the chair in front of him, his face dark. His outburst made me scream. He apologized, saying he was upset about something at work, that he didn’t mean it. But when I woke up in the middle of the night, I found his side of the bed cold and empty. Smith had smoked on the balcony all night. With a sinking heart, I unlocked his phone. The chat interface hadn’t been exited. The person saved as ‘Clement’ had sent a message that afternoon. “If you had met me first, would you have married me?” Smith hadn’t replied. Not a single word. But that night, my heart died right there, in his phone.

I arrived at the hotel at 6 AM, with my marriage certificate and ID. I placed everything on the service desk. “Smith is my husband. I need to know which room he booked. If you can’t tell me, I’ll call the police.” I didn’t have the energy to argue with anyone. I was exhausted, physically and mentally drained! The front desk person stared for a long time, their expression shifting from surprise to hesitation, then to pity. “Please wait a moment, I’ll check for you right away!” They quickly gave me the room number and asked if I needed any help. I smiled, shook my head, gently stroked my swollen belly, and went upstairs. Smith didn’t make me wait long. I had only been standing outside the door for less than forty minutes when it opened. Smith stood there, gripping the doorknob. Behind him, a slender pair of arms wrapped around his waist. “Smith, thank you for this night. I’ll remember it forever…” Forever what? Her words were cut short as Smith frantically pushed her away. He saw me and hurried towards me. But I tilted my head, looking past him. Clement sat on the floor, her fiery red slip dress unable to conceal her pale legs. She stared blankly at Smith’s back, her eyes filled with sadness and hurt. “Julian!” Smith’s voice trembled when he called my name. Mine too. My hands, clasped behind my back, wouldn’t stop shaking. I thought I was mentally prepared and could handle this calmly. But in that moment, I found it hard to even stand upright. “Where’s the car?” “Underground parking.” “Let’s go!” I braced myself against the wall and turned first. Smith tried to help me. I growled, “Don’t touch me!” His hand flinched and froze, then he followed close beside me. Clement caught up with us at that moment. “Ms. Julian, you really don’t have to act this way. There’s nothing dirty going on between Smith and me!” Her tone was neither humble nor arrogant, her face full of stubbornness. Almost the instant her words fell, I slapped her. “Smack!” “Ah!” Clement screamed, “How dare you hit me?” She raised her hand protectively, wanting to touch Smith’s visibly reddened face. Smith turned away, dodging her touch. He looked at me pleadingly, “Julian, let’s go home!” Clement clenched her fists, glaring at me fiercely. “Ms. Julian, if you have a problem, direct it at me. How dare you hit Smith?” “Stop talking,” Smith ordered. Clement looked at Smith, disbelieving, “I’m helping you!” “Shut up!” Smith snapped. He didn’t spare Clement a single glance, keeping his eyes fixed on me, and spoke again. “Julian, let’s go home!”

“Julian, I can explain.” “Yesterday was Clement’s birthday. She doesn’t have any friends here, so she just wanted me to spend some time with her.” “I just celebrated her birthday with her, nothing else happened.” “It was wrong of me to lie to you, and I apologize.” “I was just afraid you’d be angry, afraid you’d overthink things!” “I was wrong. If you mind, I won’t see her again.” “She’s just a friend.” “Julian, please don’t ignore me. Say something, okay? “Don’t scare me!” Since we got home, Smith had said a lot. Explanations, apologies, self-reproach. I wanted to speak, but my throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton. I couldn’t utter a single word. I didn’t know where to start, or what to say. Finally, I managed to say, one word at a time, “Smith, let’s get a divorce.” My words made Smith tremble violently. He clenched his fists, closing his eyes tightly. When he opened them again, it was as if he had suppressed his furious emotions. “Nothing really happened between her and me. We just had some drinks and talked.” “Julian, please don’t be like this, okay? I know you’re angry, I was wrong, I messed up, I’ll accept any punishment.” “But you have to believe me, I didn’t do anything to betray you!” What exactly did he consider “betraying me”? “You must have hugged, you probably kissed. You smell of her perfume. And here…” I pointed to his lips, “a bite mark!” Smith flinched, his lips tightening. I looked at him in despair. “How much further do we need to go? Catching you red-handed in bed? You were in a room together, all night. How am I supposed to believe you?” “Smith, how can I believe you?” Smith slumped his head in defeat. He knelt on one knee before me, wanting to touch me but not daring to. “Julian, I was wrong! I was foolish, I lost my head, but I swear, nothing more happened.” “I’m begging you, for the sake of all these years we’ve been together, for the sake of our child who’s about to be born, please give me one more chance.” How laughable. He knew about our years of shared history, he knew our child was coming. Yet he still did all this, and he still hoped I would forgive him for their sake. Layer upon layer of emotions, memory after memory, each one tearing me apart. I looked around frantically, then my gaze fell on my own belly. Tears fell uncontrollably, and my sobs sounded like a trapped animal. Smith protectively reached for me, “Julian, what’s wrong?” His voice was like a match, instantly igniting me. I finally burst into loud sobs. “I want a divorce! I want a divorce from you!”

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That night, when I pried open Liam Sterling’s safe, the password I entered was my younger brother Jace Holloway’s birthday. There was no cash or jewelry inside, only a stack of medical reports. The last page read: [Sibling umbilical cord blood matching, a perfect match.] My hands were trembling. The door swung open, and Liam Sterling leaned against the doorframe, his expression so calm it was as if he had been waiting for this moment for a long time. I held up the report: “You married me just to use my child to save Jace Holloway?” “Iris,” he said, “we can have more children later.” He looked at my belly, his expression calm: “As for this one, if it dies, it dies.” I touched my six-month-old belly and suddenly burst out laughing. As I laughed, tears splattered onto the floor. So my three-year marriage was just a carefully planned procedure to extract medicine. It turned out he was in love with my own younger brother. Iris Holloway POV When I was six months pregnant, Liam Sterling organized a grand art exhibition for me. Everyone in New York’s business elite said that Liam Sterling, this ruthless, cold, and taciturn rising business magnate, had given all his tenderness to me. I had casually mentioned once that I liked a certain deceased painter’s rare manuscript, and he spent hundreds of millions on an international auction, just to make me smile. I didn’t sleep well during my pregnancy, so he canceled all his international meetings and stayed by my bedside every night, lulling me to sleep by reciting poetry in his deep voice. I, too, once believed I was the happiest woman in the world. Until tonight’s Holloway family dinner. At the long dining table, the atmosphere was oppressive. My parents’ gaze was almost entirely fixed on Jace Holloway across from us. Jace Holloway was my younger brother, sickly since childhood, with a pale but rather delicate face. “Jace, eat more. You look so pale lately.” Mother lovingly put food into his bowl, then turned to me, her tone instantly chilling: “Iris, your brother isn’t well. You’re pregnant, so stop running around outside. What if you catch germs or viruses and pass them to him?” My hand, holding the chopsticks, paused slightly. Ever since I was little, my parents’ hearts had always leaned towards my younger brother. Before I could speak, Liam Sterling, beside me, had already put down his knife and fork. “Mother,” Liam Sterling’s voice was cold and clear, his tone carrying an oppressive weight. “Iris is my wife. Whatever she wants to do, I will accompany her. As for your so-called infection, if the Holloway family can’t even provide a sterile environment, I wouldn’t mind having Jace stay at the Sterling family’s private hospital.” Mother’s face stiffened, and she closed her mouth with an embarrassed smile. I turned to Liam Sterling; the man was unhurriedly peeling a shrimp, placing the translucent shrimp meat onto my plate. His profile was sharp, and his eyes held an unshakeable focus. In that moment, a warmth blossomed in my heart. After dinner, a heavy rain began outside. Jace Holloway suddenly clutched his chest, his brow furrowed, and his breathing grew rapid. “Jace! What’s wrong? Is it another episode?” Mother frantically supported him. Liam Sterling moved faster than everyone else. He shot to his feet, strode over, and scooped Jace Holloway into his arms. I stood rooted, watching a clear panic surface on Liam Sterling’s usually impassive face. “To the hospital,” Liam Sterling’s voice was strained. He carried Jace Holloway and rushed into the rain, not even taking time to open an umbrella. I instinctively took a step forward, but Father roughly pushed me aside: “Don’t block the way! If anything happens to your brother, you won’t have it easy either!” I stumbled, barely steadying myself by gripping the doorframe. Rainwater poured down from the eaves, splashing onto my ankles, icy and bone-chilling. Liam Sterling’s car had already vanished into the night. He had left in such a hurry that he even forgot to look back at me, still pregnant. Late at night, St. John’s Hospital in New York. I carried a meal box, walking alone down the empty corridor. I was worried, so I still had the driver bring me here. The door to the VIP ward was ajar, letting out a sliver of warm, yellow light. Just as I was about to push the door open, I heard voices from inside, and my feet froze to the spot. “Liam, it hurts so much…” Jace Holloway’s voice was tearful, heartbreakingly fragile. “Bear with it, it’ll be over soon.” Liam Sterling’s voice was low and hoarse, laced with a tenderness and indulgence I had never heard before. I peered through the crack in the door, my pupils constricting abruptly.

Iris Holloway POV On the hospital bed, Jace Holloway leaned into Liam Sterling’s embrace, his hands tightly wrapped around the man’s waist. And Liam Sterling not only didn’t push him away but lowered his head, pressing his slightly cool lips gently to Jace Holloway’s forehead. It was a kiss full of comfort and affection. My mind went blank with a “boom,” and it felt as if all the blood in my body had been drained in an instant. Liam Sterling was bisexual; this was an open secret in New York’s upper echelons. But after our marriage, he had led a clean life, never involved in any scandals. I thought he only loved me… Yet now, my husband was holding my own younger brother, his eyes filled with a deep affection I had never witnessed. “Liam, can the baby in Iris Holloway’s belly really save me?” Jace Holloway looked up, tears still clinging to the corners of his eyes. Liam Sterling’s slender fingers ran through his hair, his tone firm: “Yes. The doctor said that once the baby is born, a stem cell transplant using the umbilical cord blood will completely cure your illness.” “But will Iris Holloway agree? She dislikes me so much.” “She doesn’t need to agree.” Liam Sterling’s gaze turned cold, radiating bone-chilling frost. “She just needs to give birth to the child. I went to such lengths to marry her, gave her the title of Mrs. Sterling, and gave her the love and career she desired. She has no room to refuse.” The meal box slipped from my hands. A muffled “thud” echoed, especially jarring in the silent corridor. The sounds from the ward ceased abruptly. I frantically covered my mouth, tears falling without warning. So, all of this was a carefully orchestrated deception! He married me, doted on me, put me on a pedestal, not because he loved me. But because I was a perfect vessel, capable of bearing the medicine that would save his beloved. I stumbled backward, then turned and ran frantically out. The corridor lights were stark and blinding. I felt as if my heart was being brutally torn apart by an invisible hand, the pain so intense that even my breaths tasted of blood. My proud love, the child I joyfully anticipated, all of it was a sacrifice prepared for Jace Holloway. I don’t know how I got back to the villa. I collapsed onto the cold floor, looking at the room full of famous paintings and antiques Liam Sterling had collected for me, and suddenly felt incredibly nauseous. My stomach churned, and I rushed into the bathroom, throwing up violently. The person in the mirror was pale and disheveled. I touched my swollen abdomen, feeling the faint kicks within, my heart twisting in agony. “Baby…” I murmured, tears slipping through my fingers. “What should we do?” Liam Sterling returned just before dawn. He pushed open the bedroom door, bringing in a crisp chill. Seeing me curled up on the sofa, his brows furrowed slightly. “Why are you sleeping here? You’ll catch a cold.” He walked over, instinctively reaching to pick me up. I recoiled sharply, avoiding his touch. Liam Sterling’s hand froze in mid-air, his eyes darkening. “What’s wrong? Are you upset I didn’t stay with you last night?” He sighed, his tone regaining its tenderness: “Jace’s condition was critical, and Father and Mother were distraught. I had no choice but to take him to the hospital first. Be good, don’t throw a tantrum.” What a perfect excuse. What unassailable tenderness. I looked up, staring fixedly at the handsome man before me. “Liam Sterling.” My voice was terribly hoarse. “Is it really me you love?” Liam Sterling paused slightly, then chuckled softly, stroking my cheek with his thumb. “What nonsense are you thinking? Of course, I love you.” He lied. I looked into his deep eyes, and the last shred of hope in my heart turned completely to ash.

Iris Holloway POV Liam Sterling’s thumb was warm, slightly calloused from years of holding a pen, as it gently caressed my cheek. If it were before, I would have leaned into his palm, enjoying that unique tenderness. But now, that warmth felt like a snake’s tongue, sending shivers down my spine. “I’m tired, I want to rest.” I turned my head, evading his hand, my voice so calm even I found it incredible. Liam Sterling didn’t say much, simply tucked the blanket around me: “Alright, get some more sleep. I’ll go to the study to handle some documents.” The moment the door closed, my tense body instantly sagged. I knew I couldn’t just sit there and wait for death. Liam Sterling’s study had always been off-limits, but he had never guarded it against me, and the password was my birthday. While Liam Sterling was at the company for a meeting, I pushed open the study door. I walked straight to the locked safe and entered my birthday. A “beep” sounded, a red light flashed, password incorrect. I froze. I tried Liam Sterling’s birthday, our wedding anniversary—all wrong. I entered Jace Holloway’s birthday. “Click.” The safe opened. In that instant, my heart felt as if it had been plunged into ice water, aching with cold. There were no confidential documents in the safe, only a thick stack of medical reports and a worn-out sketchbook. With trembling hands, I opened the medical reports. Jace Holloway’s name was prominently displayed. The diagnosis was a rare aplastic anemia, and the last page of the treatment plan highlighted sibling umbilical cord blood stem cell transplant. The matching results showed that my gene loci were a perfect match with Jace Holloway’s. The date was exactly one month before Liam Sterling proposed to me. I bit down hard on my lower lip, tasting a strong metallic tang of blood. I then opened the sketchbook. It was filled with drawings of the same young man, laughing, playing, or quietly reading. The style was amateurish, yet it radiated the artist’s overflowing love. The young man in the drawings was an eighteen-year-old Jace Holloway. On the last page, a sentence was written: “My Jace, may you always be happy.” The signature was Liam Sterling. So, they had been in love for a long time. It turned out that I was the ridiculous third party, a human blood bank existing solely to save their love. I put everything back exactly as I found it, then stumbled back to the bedroom. In the afternoon, the roar of a car engine sounded outside the villa. Liam Sterling not only returned himself but brought Jace Holloway back with him. “Jace needs to recuperate in a sterile environment. The hospital is too crowded, I don’t feel at ease.” Liam Sterling explained to me while instructing the servants to set up the guest room as a sterile room, “You usually get bored alone at home. With Jace here to keep you company, I’ll also feel more at ease.” I looked at Jace Holloway standing at the main entrance, dressed in Liam Sterling’s oversized shirt, and my stomach churned again. “Iris, I apologize for the intrusion.” Jace Holloway smiled at me, his smile seemingly innocent and harmless, but his eyes held a hidden challenge. The next few days, the villa became my purgatory. Liam Sterling practically moved all his work to the house. He personally supervised Jace Holloway taking his medication, accompanied him in the glass conservatory to sunbathe, and even wiped Jace Holloway’s mouth without a hint of distaste when he vomited due to medication side effects. And I became invisible. Only when reminding me to take folic acid or go for prenatal check-ups would Liam Sterling deign to cast a glance my way. “How are you feeling today? Has the baby kicked you?” Liam Sterling came up to me, holding a glass of warm milk, his gaze falling on my swollen abdomen, his eyes so tender they could drown someone. Looking at his affectionate demeanor, I only felt absurdity.

Iris Holloway POV “Liam Sterling, who are you truly thinking of when you look at me every day?” I finally couldn’t hold back, piercing through the layers of this false pretense. Liam Sterling’s brow furrowed slightly as he placed the milk on the table. “Iris, you’ve been too sensitive lately. I understand that hormonal changes are significant during pregnancy, but don’t be unreasonable.” “I’m unreasonable?” I let out a soft laugh, though my eyes were red. “Do you dare to say you brought Jace Holloway here just for him to recuperate? Do you dare to say you didn’t marry me for the umbilical cord blood in my belly?” Liam Sterling’s eyes instantly turned cold, the atmospheric pressure around him dropping to freezing point. “You looked in my safe.” He stated it as a fact, his tone absolute. I didn’t deny it, raising my head to look him straight in the eye: “Yes. So what? Are you going to kill me for your Jace?” Liam Sterling stepped forward, pinching my chin. The force wasn’t heavy, but it carried a warning. “Iris, I’ve given you the best life, the honor of being Mrs. Sterling. As long as you obediently give birth to the child, nothing will change. Jace is your own younger brother, after all; saving him is your rightful responsibility.” “What did you say?” My tears splattered onto his hand. “By what right do you make decisions for me! That’s my child!” “And my child too.” Liam Sterling released his grip, looking down at me. “Don’t do anything foolish. You should know that in New York, without my permission, you can’t even walk out that front door.” He turned and left, his back resolute. I collapsed onto the sofa, trembling all over. That evening, Jace Holloway knocked on my bedroom door. He walked in smiling, carrying a plate of sliced fruit: “Iris, have some fruit. Liam specifically had it air-shipped for you.” I looked at him coldly: “Get out.” Jace Holloway wasn’t bothered. He simply sat down on the sofa, crossing his long legs. “Iris, why are you so angry? Actually, you should thank me. If I hadn’t gotten sick, how would Liam ever have noticed a mediocre woman like you?” He leaned forward, lowering his voice, his tone filled with malicious gloating. “Don’t you understand? That glass conservatory you’re so proud of, Liam actually built it for me to watch the stars. The reason you have all this now is also because of me.” My fingertips dug into my palms, my nails almost breaking. “Have you said enough?” “No,” Jace Holloway’s smile grew even brighter. “Iris, guess what: once the baby is born, will Liam keep you, a woman who has lost her usefulness, or will he openly be with me?” I abruptly stood up, picked up the water glass from the table, and fiercely splashed its contents onto Jace Holloway’s face. “Shut up!” Jace Holloway shrieked, then stumbled to the floor, knocking over the fruit plate. The door was violently flung open, and Liam Sterling strode in. Seeing the mess on the floor and the water stains on Jace Holloway’s face, his expression instantly turned utterly grim. “Iris Holloway, what are you doing!” He roughly pushed me away, pulling Jace Holloway into his embrace. I stumbled back a few steps, my side hitting the corner of the table hard, a searing pain shooting through me. But Liam Sterling didn’t even glance at me, only anxiously checked Jace Holloway for injuries. “Liam, don’t blame Iris, I accidentally made her angry…” Jace Holloway murmured, leaning against him. I clutched my faintly aching stomach, looking at the embracing pair before me, and suddenly burst out laughing. As I laughed, tears streamed down my face. In this house, even my breathing felt wrong.

Iris Holloway POV The bruise on my side ached faintly, but it was nowhere near a thousandth of the pain in my heart. Liam Sterling carried Jace Holloway out of the bedroom and didn’t return all night. I lay awake in the darkness, my eyes open, until the sky began to lighten. I touched my swollen abdomen; the little life inside seemed to sense my sorrow, giving me a gentle kick. “Baby, I’m sorry…” I whispered, my voice utterly broken. I couldn’t let my child become a sacrifice for someone else’s love, nor could I let my child face the fate of having its umbilical cord blood drained the moment it was born. I had to leave. I forced myself to calm down. Liam Sterling’s influence spread throughout New York; a direct escape would be tantamount to seeking my own death. I needed a detailed plan. A few days later was the annual New York Charity Gala. As the CEO’s wife of Sterling Group, I had to attend. It was my only chance to reach out to the outside world and find an opportunity to escape. On the day of the gala, Liam Sterling had the stylist deliver a haute couture gown early. It was a dark blue velvet gown that perfectly accentuated my pregnant figure, making my skin appear as white as snow. Liam Sterling stood at the closet door, looking at me in the mirror, a flicker of admiration in his eyes. He walked up to me, wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, and placed a priceless sapphire necklace around my neck. “Beautiful,” he murmured, his chin resting on my shoulder, his warm breath fanning my ear. If I hadn’t known the truth, I would have indulged in that tenderness. But now, I only felt a chill run down my spine. Through the mirror, I gazed at him coldly. “Liam Sterling, aren’t you tired of acting?” Liam Sterling’s movements paused slightly, then he recovered his composure. He brushed back a few stray strands of my hair, his voice flat. “Iris, as long as you cooperate, we will remain New York’s most envied couple. Tonight’s gala is very important; don’t disappoint me.” I didn’t speak, just lowered my gaze. The gala hall was bustling with activity. Liam Sterling escorted me in, instantly drawing everyone’s attention. He thoughtfully fended off all the toasts on my behalf, shielding me from the crowded guests, perfectly playing the role of a devoted husband. “Mr. Sterling truly dotes on his wife.” “Indeed, I heard Mr. Sterling even put off a multi-billion dollar project just to accompany his wife for her prenatal check-ups.” The constant flattery around me felt incredibly ironic. Just then, a stir suddenly rippled through the crowd. I looked up to see Jace Holloway, dressed in a well-tailored white suit, entering surrounded by our parents. Though his face was pale, the lighting accentuated a fragile beauty about him. Liam Sterling’s grip on my hand tightened abruptly. I distinctly felt the man beside me’s breathing falter. His gaze cut through the layers of people, fixated on Jace Holloway, bearing a restrained longing and desire. “Why is he here?” Liam Sterling whispered to his assistant behind him, his voice laced with tension. “Jace Holloway said he was bored at home and wanted some fresh air, so Mr. Holloway brought him,” the assistant replied nervously. Liam Sterling’s brows knitted tightly together. Jace Holloway seemed to sense his gaze, looking over from a distance with a faint smile on his lips. In that moment, I felt like nothing more than a superfluous ornament. Halfway through the gala, I used the excuse of going to the restroom to escape Liam Sterling’s watchful eye. 6 Iris Holloway POV Hiding in the shadows of the corridor, I pulled out the spare phone I had secretly hidden and dialed my college friend Kaelen Voss. “Kaelen, do me a favor. Help me get a fake passport to go abroad, as soon as possible.” My voice was a low, trembling whisper. Kaelen Voss on the other end of the line was startled. “Iris? What’s wrong? Isn’t Liam Sterling treating you well?” “It’s all a lie…” I closed my eyes, tears sliding down my cheeks. “He married me just to use my baby’s umbilical cord blood to save Jace Holloway. Kaelen, I beg you, help me.” Kaelen Voss was silent for a moment, then gritted her teeth and agreed. “Okay, give me three days.” After hanging up, I let out a long breath. As long as I could get the passport, I could escape this cage. I composed myself, preparing to return to the ballroom. Just as I reached the corner, I heard muffled gasps. A faint light peeked through the half-open door of the lounge. I instinctively stopped, looked through the crack in the door, and my blood ran cold instantly. Inside the lounge, Jace Holloway was pinned against the wall by Liam Sterling. “Who told you to run around? Don’t you know your body can’t handle this strain!” Liam Sterling’s voice was low, filled with intense anger and heartache. Jace Holloway tilted his head back, his eyes slightly red. “I just wanted to see you… Liam, watching you and Iris together every day, I’m going crazy.” “Just hold on a little longer.” Liam Sterling raised a hand to caress his cheek, his thumb gently stroking the corner of his eye. “Once the baby is born and your illness is cured, we won’t have to hide anymore.” “Really?” Jace Holloway rose on his tiptoes, leaning close to his lips. “Then kiss me now, okay?” Liam Sterling didn’t refuse. He lowered his head and kissed Jace Holloway’s lips. The air in the corridor seemed to have been sucked dry. I stood rooted to the spot, even forgetting to breathe. I clamped my hand over my mouth, preventing myself from making a sound. My fingernails dug deep into my palms, drawing blood, yet I felt no pain whatsoever. I thought I was numb enough, but seeing my husband and my own brother kissing, the soul-rending agony still made me wish for death. This was the man I had loved for three years. This was my proud marriage. I stumbled backward, then turned and ran out desperately. I didn’t want to stay in this heartbreaking place for another second. Just as I ran out of the corridor, I bumped into my Mother, who was looking for me. “Iris! Where did you run off to? Can’t you watch where you’re going!” Mother grabbed my arm, reprimanding me sharply. I looked at the mother who had given birth to and raised me, despair filling my eyes. “Mom, did you know all along?” Mother froze for a moment, her gaze evasive. “Know what? What nonsense are you spouting!” “About Liam Sterling and Jace Holloway! About their conspiring to use the baby in my womb!” My voice was shrill, filled with a sorrow so deep it felt like weeping blood. Mother’s face instantly changed. She clapped a hand over my mouth, lowering her voice to a furious whisper: “Shut your mouth! Since you already know, then obediently give birth to the child! Jace is your brother; are you going to just watch him die? It’s your luck to be able to exchange a child for your brother’s life!” I felt as if I had been struck by lightning. I stared at my mother in disbelief, as if looking at a monster. So, everyone knew. Only I, like a fool, had been kept in the dark, trampled upon and used by them at will. “Let go of me…” I violently shook off Mother’s hand, my eyes terrifyingly vacant. “I won’t let you have your way.” I turned and ran out of the ballroom, disappearing into the vast night.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “418489”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

My husband Caleb’s mistress and I were in a car crash at the same time, but he chose to save her first. At the hospital, the doctor told me I had a miscarriage because I was taken to the hospital too late after the accident. “Caleb,” I croaked, “our baby is gone.” Caleb was standing at the door of the ward, holding his mistress, Daisy. Daisy only had a few scrapes. He frowned. “Willow, stop making a fuss. Daisy’s pregnancy is still delicate.” That’s when I finally saw it clearly. The woman he was protecting had a visibly rounded belly, at least four months along. He had publicly announced it was the posthumous child of “his fallen brother.” Later, from the next room, I heard the sounds of them making love. He gasped. “Daisy, I love you.” That night, I packed my bags, leaving the miscarriage report and two time capsules on the table. Inside the capsules were his promises. “I’ll cherish you my entire life, never let you down.” He had written those words himself three years ago. Before boarding, I pulled out my SIM card and broke it in half. Caleb, your child killed my child. This time, I don’t want you anymore.

Willow’s POV “Madam, your divorce decree with Mr. Owen has been processed as per his request.” Mr. Davies, the lawyer, respectfully handed me the final divorce papers. I took the papers, softly hummed, and stared blankly at them. “If you have no other instructions, I’ll take my leave.” I nodded, not speaking. The lawyer relaxed and immediately stood to depart. I gripped the divorce papers tightly, my mind buzzing, wanting to cry but unable to. My phone rang. It was Caleb. “Willow, did you get the divorce decree?” His voice was as deep as ever, but this time, it held a rare hint of tension. “Yes.” “It’s just a sham divorce, don’t worry about it. Once the scandal blows over, we’ll get remarried, okay?” He quickly added. “Okay.” He cautiously continued, “I’ll leave work early tonight. Want to go out for dinner?” “Sure.” Hanging up, I looked at the divorce decree in my hand and suddenly started to laugh. As I laughed, my cheeks grew cold, and tears dripped onto the paper. I was Caleb’s first love. In college, I was walking past the sports field when Caleb hit me with a basketball. From then on, Caleb started his relentless pursuit of me. He brought me breakfast every day and walked me back to my dorm from the library every night. I casually mentioned a cake shop I liked, and Caleb would drive halfway across the city and wait in line for three or four hours just to buy it for me. After graduation and starting work, to take care of me, he, who had never stepped into a kitchen, learned to cook. Later, I found out Caleb was the heir to the Owen family, one of the wealthiest in the country. But I was just an ordinary girl. My parents passed away, and I only finished my studies through scholarships and part-time jobs. How could someone from my background ever be worthy of the Owen family? So I broke up with him. Caleb refused. He waited outside my apartment building for seven days and nights, refusing to leave even when a severe storm hit. I watched his resolute figure from my window upstairs, standing in the pouring rain, and finally, my heart softened. To get his mother to agree to our marriage, Caleb pleaded with Eleanor for three days, enduring her furious disapproval and extreme conditions, until she finally gave in, and he married me three years ago. After we married, he spoiled me rotten. For my birthday, he booked all the giant screens across the city. For our anniversary, he chartered the most luxurious yacht for a trip out to sea. If I had a fever, Caleb would drop his overseas projects and fly back overnight. When I had period cramps, he’d rub my stomach all night, not sleeping a wink. The entire internet envied Caleb and my love story. Everyone said I was lucky, marrying into a wealthy family and marrying for love. Everyone praised Caleb as a rare good man. Every time I saw comments online, my heart swelled with happiness. This man had suffered so much for me; I wished I could give him the best of everything in the world. Yet, this very Caleb, two months ago, suddenly brought home a woman named Daisy. Caleb said, “This is my brother Oliver’s girlfriend. He was killed in the line of duty, and she’s pregnant. As his brother, I have to take care of her and ensure his child is safe.” I believed him. My heart ached for Daisy. I often visited her, chatting, cheering her up, taking her shopping, buying her gifts, diligently caring for her on Caleb’s behalf. But gradually, things started to feel off. Caleb and I had planned to go to the movies, but Daisy said she had a prenatal check-up, so our date was canceled. I was running a high fever, but Daisy called in the middle of the night, and Caleb immediately got up and left. His excuse was that Daisy had a nightmare about his brother. When I landed after a business trip, Caleb, who was supposed to pick me up, bailed again. Because Daisy was scared of thunder. I had to take a cab home alone in the pouring rain. No matter what we were doing, one call from Daisy could always make Caleb leave.

Willow’s POV I voiced my dissatisfaction once, but Caleb always used the same line: “Daisy is pregnant, and this is for Oliver’s child.” Though I felt wronged, I didn’t want to make things difficult for his brother’s widow. After all, it was a life. I thought, it’ll all be fine once the baby is born. Until the night before last, Caleb was with Daisy at a concert, and a reporter snapped photos of them supposedly kissing. The next day, media outlets rushed to report it. Suddenly, Caleb’s affair and the identity of his mistress became hot topics online. That day, I went to a private club to find Caleb, wanting to discuss how to handle it. As I approached the door of the private room, I overheard Caleb’s conversation with his friend. “Everyone knows about your situation. What are you going to do?” Caleb sat in the middle of the sofa, long legs crossed, his brow deeply furrowed. He was silent for a moment before speaking, “Willow and I will get a sham divorce first, so Daisy won’t be considered my mistress. Once the storm passes, I’ll remarry Willow.” His friend sounded incredulous, “You’re really willing to divorce Willow for Daisy?” “It’s just a sham divorce. Willow will always be my wife.” “I really don’t get it. You clearly love Willow so much, how did you end up having a child with Daisy?” Caleb looked down, twirling a lighter in his hand, and after a while, he said, “Daisy came from a humble background, and to make ends meet, she worked as a hostess at a high-end club. She reminds me so much of how Willow used to be, struggling but resilient and brave.” “Being with her, I feel like I’m back to the beginning of my relationship with Willow.” I stood outside the door, my mind exploding. What brother’s girlfriend? What brother’s child? It was all a lie. That was Caleb’s own mistress and child. “Aren’t you afraid Willow will find out?” His friend asked. Caleb’s face darkened, and he was silent for a longer moment, “Oliver is on a mission. He won’t be back for several months.” “As long as he doesn’t come back, Willow won’t know.” “Once Daisy has the baby, I’ll send her and the child abroad.” I leaned against the hallway wall, utterly cold, my limbs refusing to obey. My heart felt like it was being violently seized and then ripped apart, making me break out in a cold sweat. On my way here, I was still thinking that, for his brother’s sake, I would endure it and work with him to figure out how to handle the public outcry. But it turned out his brother wasn’t dead at all. And Daisy, whom I had genuinely cared for for two months, wasn’t his brother’s girlfriend at all. She was my husband’s mistress. The shopping trips I took her on, the gifts I picked out for her, the comforting words I spoke to her, all became a complete joke. Caleb, who had constantly vowed to love only me forever, cheated on me after three years of marriage. He neglected his wife at home to have an affair with a woman who reminded him of my past self, and they even had a child. Not only that, he brazenly brought his mistress right in front of me, confidently expecting me to care for her. Caleb, you are truly audacious. That evening, Caleb returned home and, as expected, brought up the sham divorce to calm the public. His words were sincere, his tone gentle, and he reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, “It’s just temporary. Trust me.” Caleb probably expected me to cry and make a scene. Instead, I accepted it without a word. Caleb visibly relaxed. He thought he had appeased me. He didn’t know that what I agreed to wasn’t a sham divorce at all. What I wanted was a real departure. I snapped back to reality, put away the divorce decree, and went out to do two things.

Willow’s POV First, I applied for a visa. Second, I canceled my ID and wiped my records from the system. The clerk said all procedures would be completed within two weeks. As I walked out of the ID office, my phone rang. It was Caleb calling. “Willow, where are you? Why aren’t you home?” His tone was urgent, barely concealing his anger. It used to be like this. Once, I went to the grocery store and didn’t notice my phone. I was only out for forty minutes, but when I returned, I found Caleb had called twenty-seven times. Seeing me return with grocery bags, he pulled me into his arms, squeezing me so tight I couldn’t breathe. “Willow, if I can’t find you, I’ll go crazy!” That Caleb, so anxious and caring about me, could also make room for another woman in his heart. How ironic. “I just came out for a walk, to clear my head,” I tried to make my voice sound normal. “Stay right there, I’m coming to pick you up.” Caleb’s voice was tense, “The divorce news just broke, there are reporters everywhere. You’re not safe alone.” After hanging up, I suddenly realized. Caleb and Daisy’s affair was still trending on social media. Going out alone now indeed made me an easy target for reporters. Caleb arrived quickly, his Maybach screeching to a halt. He pushed open the car door and strode over, not even wearing his suit jacket, clearly having dropped everything to rush here. When he reached me, he instinctively reached out to pull me into his embrace. His arm lifted halfway, then dropped. We were outside now. And we were publicly divorced. His hand froze in mid-air, eventually just lightly resting on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze. He lowered his eyes to look at me, a hint of indescribable grievance in his expression, “Willow, I’m just glad you’re okay. I was so worried about you.” I looked at his face, and a sharp pang twisted in my chest. He looked so sincere, so concerned about me. Just like every other time he couldn’t find me. But I already knew that this concern wasn’t just for me anymore. I lowered my eyes and quietly asked, “Where are we eating?” Caleb quickly pulled open the car door for me, “I’ve booked a restaurant. It’s a private event, just the two of us tonight, Willow.” The car drove into the private driveway of a French restaurant in the city center. The entire restaurant had been booked out, the crystal chandeliers glowed softly, and someone played the violin in the corner, the melody lingering beautifully. Caleb pulled out my chair, personally spread the napkin on my lap, and ordered for me. When the steak arrived, he took the knife and fork, expertly cut the meat into small pieces, and pushed the plate toward me. Every time we ate Western food together, he was this thoughtful and attentive. I looked down at the neatly arranged steak pieces on my plate, my throat tight, unable to swallow a single bite. Caleb observed my expression, put down his knife and fork, and took my hand, “The divorce is just for show.” “Willow, just bear with it for a few days. Once this is over, we’ll remarry immediately.” “My care for Daisy is just for…” “Just to take care of Oliver’s girlfriend for you.” I finished his sentence for him, even managing a small smile. “He was always the best to you since you were little. I know. I understand.” Caleb finally exhaled in relief. He reached out and pinched my cheek, a smile in his voice, “Willow is the most understanding. You’ll always be my wife.” He took my hand, lacing our fingers together, his thumb slowly stroking the back of my hand, and whispered, “When we remarry, I’ll propose to you again.” My eyelashes trembled. I remembered the night he proposed three years ago. Caleb knelt before me and said, “Willow, I will never marry anyone but you. Marry me, and we’ll be together forever, okay?” I was crying so hard I couldn’t speak. The same hands that put a ring on my finger three years ago handed me the divorce decree three years later. Caleb’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen. I clearly saw the tenderness and deep affection in his eyes vanish instantly, replaced by tension. He answered the phone, “Daisy, what’s wrong?” The restaurant was quiet. Daisy’s tearful voice came through the receiver, “There are reporters outside the door, I’m so scared.” Caleb shot up, “Don’t be afraid. Lock the door. I’m coming right now.” He hung up and looked down at me. His eyes still held an apology, but his body was already moving toward the door. “Willow, Daisy has a situation. I need to go handle it. I’ll have the driver come pick you up.” With that, he was out the door. I sat alone in the empty French restaurant. A whole table of carefully prepared dishes, barely touched. The waitstaff stood in the distance, their gazes carrying a hint of undisguised pity. I waited for two hours. The driver never came. Caleb had forgotten me. I walked out of the restaurant alone. Before I even reached the roadside, a group of reporters swarmed me, cameras and microphones practically shoved into my face: “Ms. Lynn, is it true you’re divorcing Mr. Owen?” “Do you know about Ms. Rance’s relationship with Mr. Owen?” “When did your relationship break down?” “Is Ms. Rance the reason for your divorce?”

Willow’s POV I finally managed to escape the mob of reporters and took a cab home, looking utterly disheveled. But before I even reached my doorstep, I saw a group of reporters squatting outside the main gate, long lenses and microphones set up everywhere. I couldn’t go home. I had no choice but to take a cab to our small apartment. Back when Caleb was pursuing me, he didn’t mention his identity as an Owen heir, fearing I’d reject him. To live with me, he bought a small 600-square-foot apartment on the west side of town. Back then, we went furniture shopping together, chose a decorator together, and furnished our new home together. Every single item in that small apartment, we had picked out together. Later, Caleb revealed his identity, we got married, and moved into the mansion. He kept that small apartment, arranging for it to be cleaned regularly. He never allowed anyone to touch anything inside. He said it was our home, just for the two of us, filled with too many memories for anyone else to touch. Occasionally, he would even take me back to stay for a night or two. I took a cab to the small apartment, opened the door, and froze right inside the entrance. A pair of women’s flats were on the floor. They weren’t mine. I was rooted to the spot. Faint voices drifted from inside. Caleb and Daisy. “Make yourself comfortable. No one knows about this place, so no reporters will bother you.” Daisy’s voice was timid, “Will Willow be unhappy if I stay here?” “Willow won’t know.” He had said this was our home, just for the two of us. Now, another woman was walking on the floors I picked out, sleeping in the bed he and I chose together. He remembered to find a secluded spot for Daisy, away from reporters, but he forgot that I, too, was blocked by reporters and had nowhere to go. He didn’t think of me even once. Pain spread from my chest, stifling me until I could barely breathe. I silently backed out, gently closing the door. As I walked out of the apartment building, I looked down and saw my hands trembling. My phone vibrated. It was a message from Caleb: “Willow, we can’t be photographed together for the next few days. I won’t be coming home these days.” I stared at the screen, wanting to ask him, “Are you going to stay with Daisy in our small apartment? Are you going to sleep in our bed?” But I couldn’t type a single word. My vision was completely blurred, and tears streamed onto the phone screen. I waited at a street corner near our house until past 1 AM, waiting for the reporters outside to leave, then secretly returned home. Back home, I found my documents, then picked out a few common clothes and toiletries and stuffed them into my suitcase. A twenty-inch small suitcase held everything I wanted to take from three years in Caleb’s house. Four days later, Caleb finally returned. The moment he walked in, he pulled me into a hug, resting his chin on my head, his voice urgent, “Willow, I missed you so much. Did you miss me?” I didn’t speak, my hands hanging at my sides. Caleb noticed something was off. He released me and looked down at my face. A clear tension in his eyes. “The reporters were too vigilant these past few days. I didn’t dare come back. But I worried about you every single day. Please don’t be mad, okay?” Worried every single day. Yet, in those four days, he didn’t send me a single call or message. He didn’t ask what I ate, didn’t ask if I was cornered by reporters, not even a goodnight. I subtly stepped back half a pace from his embrace, “I’m not mad. You’ve worked hard.” Caleb took one of my hands, brought it to his lips, and kissed it, “For our future, it’s not hard.” He took out a jewelry box. Inside was a ruby necklace. He personally put it on me, “Come on, tonight I’m taking you back to the family estate for dinner. I told Mr. Jenkins to prepare all your favorite dishes.” “The divorce is just a public statement. In our family, you’re still my wife. That won’t change.” I didn’t want to go back to the family estate. His mother, Eleanor, never liked me from the start. She disliked my ordinary background, feeling I wasn’t worthy of the Owen family. That year, Caleb, to marry me, was willing to face punishment, even declaring firmly, “If she doesn’t marry me, I’ll never marry anyone else.” Only then did Eleanor agree. The first year of our marriage, Eleanor was relatively polite to me, considering Caleb. From the second year on, because we had no children, Eleanor’s attitude toward me grew colder by the day. But Caleb didn’t wait for me to refuse. He took my hand and walked out. I sat in the car, watching the city lights pass by. The man who once said he’d marry no one but me, changed so quickly.

Willow’s POV At the family estate, I greeted Eleanor. Eleanor scowled, not even looking at me. Caleb frowned, reminding her, “Eleanor!” Only then did she grudgingly respond. Before dinner was even served, Caleb sat beside me, peeling grapes for her. Eleanor sat opposite, her face so dark it looked like it could wring out water. Dinner began, and Caleb busied himself serving me food and handing me napkins. Not long after, Daisy arrived. Eleanor’s face immediately lit up. She stood to greet Daisy, taking her hand and smiling warmly, “Daisy, you’re here? Is it cold outside? Are you hungry? Come, sit down.” She then turned to urge Caleb, “What are you waiting for? Get Daisy a glass of freshly squeezed juice, there’s some in the fridge.” Caleb put down his cutlery, stood up, and went to get it. At the dinner table, Eleanor’s gaze remained fixated on Daisy’s swollen belly, her joy evident. She suddenly spoke, “Caleb, since you two are already divorced, I don’t think you need to remarry.” “Daisy is all alone, and besides, this child is yours, the Owen’s.” “You’ve already announced publicly that you’re with Daisy, haven’t you? Why don’t you marry her? Take good care of her child. Everyone will be happy.” Caleb put his cutlery down on the table with a clatter and said coldly, “Eleanor!” Eleanor huffed in displeasure but didn’t say anything more. Caleb squeezed my hand, lowering his voice, “Willow, Eleanor’s getting old and confused. She just said that. Don’t take it to heart.” I looked at his earnest apology, and my heart ached as if someone was clutching and twisting it. It was then that I realized Eleanor had never cried, never even talked about her eldest son. She didn’t act like a mother who had lost a child. So, Eleanor knew the truth. She knew the child was Caleb’s. In the end, everyone knew the truth, and I was the only one being fooled. They were making a fool of me. “Oh, dear.” Daisy suddenly let out a soft cry. Caleb immediately turned, “What’s wrong?” Daisy’s small face was crumpled, “Nothing, the bowl was too hot.” Caleb quickly went over, took her hand, and examined it thoroughly, “You’re pregnant, how can you be so careless?” He called Mr. Jenkins for burn cream and personally applied it carefully to Daisy’s hand several times. After that, he continued eating, constantly serving Daisy food, spooning soup for her, and testing its temperature, terrified she might get hurt again. He never thought of me again. That night, we all stayed at the family estate. Back in the room, Caleb took my hand and apologized earnestly again, “Willow, Daisy is carrying Oliver’s child. Oliver passed away, so Eleanor and I both have to protect her. Please don’t be mad.” Listening to that familiar excuse, my heart felt submerged in ice water, chilling me to the bone. I avoided his gaze and whispered, “Yeah, you said that.” Caleb leaned closer, his hand resting on my waist, intending to kiss me. I turned my head, “I’m too tired today.” I turned over and lay down, my back to him. Caleb didn’t insist but still wrapped his arms around my waist from behind. I don’t know how long passed, but I woke up thirsty. The space behind me was empty. Caleb wasn’t there. I got up, intending to get some water. As I reached the hallway, the door to the next room was ajar, and muffled sounds came from within. “No, Willow is right next door. It wouldn’t be good if she heard us,” Daisy’s voice was sweet and soft. Caleb let out a low, husky laugh, “Then you’ll have to bear it. Be quiet, okay?” A series of hurried gasps. “Don’t, Caleb, the baby…” “It’s already four months.” Caleb’s urgency was barely contained, “I asked the doctor; it’s fine. I’ve missed you terribly lately.” Then came the rhythmic thudding sounds and the woman’s suppressed moans. I was frozen solid, losing sensation inch by inch from my feet upwards. I remembered our wedding night, Caleb holding me, saying, “Willow, I’ll never want anyone else in my life. You’re all I need.” And now, just a wall away, he was giving the same tenderness and intimacy to another woman. I was chilled to the bone, and my stomach churned violently. I clutched my mouth and stumbled back to my room, dry-heaving over the toilet.

Willow’s POV I couldn’t sleep anymore. I lay in the darkness with my eyes open, my body rigid as a board. After an unknown amount of time, the door gently pushed open, and Caleb softly walked in, lifted the covers, and hugged me from behind. As if nothing had happened. He smelled of an unfamiliar perfume. My stomach churned again. I gritted my teeth, pushing down the nausea again and again. Caleb’s arms tightened, his lips pressed against the back of my neck, and he mumbled vaguely, “Willow.” I lay still, pretending to be fast asleep. He fell asleep quickly. But I kept my eyes open until dawn. The next morning, as we were leaving the family estate, Daisy timidly said, “I can just take a cab. No need to trouble you.” Caleb immediately shook his head, “No way. You’re pregnant, and there are a lot of reporters out there. It’s not safe. Come with us.” The three of us walked to the car. I habitually reached for the passenger door. From behind me, Daisy’s timid voice came again, “The front seat is more spacious, and it’s a bit uncomfortable for me since I’m pregnant. Willow, could I sit in the front?” I didn’t say anything, turned, walked to the back seat, opened the door myself, and got in. Caleb looked at me, ultimately said nothing, and then opened the passenger door for Daisy. As the car drove onto the main road, a truck suddenly lost control and overturned, causing a multi-car pileup. Caleb slammed the steering wheel, and the car violently crashed into the guardrail. The massive impact flung me toward the car window, and blood streamed down my forehead. Daisy in the front seat shrieked in terror. Caleb immediately turned sideways to shield her stomach, “Daisy! Are you okay? The baby? Does your stomach hurt?” Daisy trembled all over, shrinking into his embrace, shaking her head. The road was blocked, and the ambulance wouldn’t be able to get through for a while. The accident scene quickly gathered a crowd, and people started recognizing them. “Is that Caleb Owen?” “The woman next to him, is that Willow? Mrs. Owen?” “Mrs. Owen? They’re divorced, everyone knows that. The other one is Caleb’s current girlfriend. Didn’t you see that photo of them kissing at the concert?” “Wait, why is that woman’s belly so big? They just got divorced, right? Her belly is already so big, the timing doesn’t add up.” “Isn’t she just his mistress then? Cheating during marriage!” “That mistress has no shame.” Caleb’s face instantly darkened. He unhesitatingly pulled Daisy into his embrace, then turned to me, his gaze cold and sharp, and loudly snapped, “Stop following me! We divorced a long time ago!” My body trembled. He publicly lied, pushing me out to take the blame for Daisy. Sure enough, the onlookers immediately changed their tune. “Oh, so they were already divorced. She’s not a mistress then, we misunderstood her.” “So what’s the deal with this Willow? Divorced but still clinging to her ex-husband? His new girlfriend is even pregnant.” “What else could it be? She can’t let go of the Owen family money. She came from an ordinary family; how could she willingly give up such a rich family?” “So she’s a gold-digger? Mr. Owen used to spoil her so much; he should have divorced her sooner.” I lowered my head, closed my eyes, unable to utter a single word. The pain from my injuries made me break out in a cold sweat, but none of it compared to the ache in my chest. It felt like someone had torn my heart from my chest, thrown it on the ground, and stomped on it. Caleb’s gaze fell on my pale face. He was about to say something. “My stomach hurts so much.” Daisy clutched her belly, her voice trembling. Caleb immediately pulled his gaze away and held Daisy even tighter. “Don’t be afraid, Daisy. The ambulance will be here any minute.” The ambulance finally arrived. I lifted my heavy eyelids and saw Caleb carrying Daisy onto the ambulance. All his attention was on Daisy. His steps were hurried. He didn’t look back once. My vision grew increasingly blurry. The sounds around me faded away, finally plunging me into darkness.

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Just as I lay down on my bed, my best friend’s call came through: “Ethan, where the heck are you? The wedding’s about to start! Why aren’t you here yet?” I was stunned. “What wedding?” Liam sounded furious. “Yours and Chloe’s wedding, of course!” I thought he was joking, but then he turned the camera to the wedding venue. In the city’s premier hotel ballroom, my parents and a host of relatives and friends were all seated. The welcome sign at the entrance clearly read: 【Ethan Miller & Chloe’s Wedding Ceremony!】 My scalp instantly prickled. Chloe? Wasn’t she the goddess I’d secretly adored for years? She was the city’s wealthiest CEO, and I was just a guy barely scraping by on minimum wage. I hadn’t seen her since high school graduation; I didn’t even have her SnapChat. Get married? Get married to whom? But Liam was so insistent, everyone was urging me to hurry to the wedding. To find out what was going on, I rushed to the hotel. But the moment I stepped out, I was hit by a runaway truck and died on the spot. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the moment Liam called me.

When I opened my eyes again, I was drenched in cold sweat. The pain of being hit by the truck in my past life still lingered. Even as I died, I couldn’t understand why everyone was saying today was my wedding to Chloe. I quickly searched: “Chloe wedding.” But there wasn’t a single piece of information about her dating or getting married! My contacts, my chat history, even my Ins and photo gallery— there was no information about her anywhere! My phone vibrated frantically. Liam’s anxious voice came through: “Ethan, the wedding’s about to start, where are you?” “Everyone’s getting impatient, hurry up, you need to make your entrance!” His voice was full of frantic urgency, but I felt ice-cold all over. I, stone-faced, sent him screenshots of the information I’d gathered: “Liam, there’s a limit to jokes! Chloe and I have zero connection. What wedding are you talking about?” Liam paused, then immediately turned his phone to the grand ballroom. Chloe, in a flowing white gown, and a crowd of guests appeared before my eyes. “Dude, are you okay? You already signed the papers, and you’re saying you’re not married?” “The ceremony’s about to begin! Why are you using some ancient news from a burner account to pretend you’re single? What’s your deal?” “Stop stalling! Everyone’s waiting for you to make your entrance!” The groomsmen also crowded around: “Ethan, where did you go? You just disappeared, we’ve been looking everywhere!” “Chloe proposed to you 99 times! This wedding alone cost millions! What more could you possibly want?” Chloe proposed to me 99 times? What a joke! She was known as the Ice Queen, untouchable and aloof. What pull do I have with a multi-billionaire tech CEO like her? Chloe’s clear, cool voice suddenly cut in: “Did you find Ethan? Is his phone connected?” “No, not yet…” Liam quickly covered his phone, answering guiltily. Chloe’s eyes darkened. She turned and coldly instructed her bodyguards: “Check the hotel surveillance. Find Ethan immediately!” Seeing this, Liam immediately lowered his voice and warned me: “You moron, did you hear that? Chloe’s been looking for you all morning!” “Stop messing around and get out here! No matter how much she spoils you, you’re leaving everyone hanging here today. Where’s her dignity in that?” “If you don’t come soon, I can’t cover for you anymore!” As he spoke, he raised his phone again. My parents stood anxiously by the door, looking around, and guests were buzzing with chatter.

Chloe’s expression grew colder by the minute. Everyone’s anxious, worried faces didn’t look fake at all. But in my last life, I believed them and died on the road. Thinking of this, I couldn’t help but clench my fists: “Liam, I’ve never even dated Chloe, let alone married her!” “Joking around with AI videos, I’m genuinely getting angry!” Liam froze, then laughed in exasperation: “AI? Ethan, are you out of your mind? Look closely, is that AI?” “Get this straight, today is *your* wedding, not mine! Whether you want to get married or not, I’m done dealing with it!” With that, he angrily sent me a screenshot and then hung up. I was dumbfounded. In the screenshot, I had officially announced my marriage! And on that marriage certificate, my and Chloe’s photos were clearly visible! I looked at it several times; there were no signs of Photoshop or AI manipulation. But I had never posted a marriage certificate, nor had I seen this post on Ins before! My mind was a mess. Liam and I have been best friends since childhood. He always stutters when he lies. But his rant just now clearly wasn’t an act. And my parents had no reason to conspire with them to trick me. If all of this was real, why did I have no memory of dating Chloe? Why was everyone insisting today was my wedding to Chloe? Just then, I suddenly remembered someone. My Aunt Carol works at the marriage registry. If the marriage certificate was fake, she’d definitely find out! I immediately sent her the marriage certificate: “Aunt Carol, I need to ask you something! Is this marriage certificate real?” Aunt Carol immediately snapped in anger: “You little rascal, trying to fool me with a fake certificate? You’re doing this on purpose to annoy me!” “I introduced you to so many potential partners, and you didn’t like any of them! Now you’re trying to wind me up!” Hearing Aunt Carol’s familiar grumbling, the knot in my stomach finally loosened a bit. “So, this certificate is fake?” “Of course it is!” Aunt Carol shoved her computer screen right in front of the camera. “Look at the system yourself. Does it say ‘married’ anywhere in your marital status?” “The registrant’s name on there is mine! If you were getting married here, wouldn’t I know?” I stared intently at the screen. Sure enough, it said ‘single.’ Aunt Carol’s colleague also leaned over, joking: “Honestly, it’s a pretty good fake!” “Ethan, your aunt has been worrying herself sick about your marriage, don’t mess with her like this! Hurry up and find someone to marry, your aunt will personally register you!” Listening to their familiar chatter, I let out a long breath. Yes, my aunt had always doted on me since I was little; there’s no way she wouldn’t attend my wedding if I were truly getting married. The official government system even showed I was single, so I definitely wasn’t married! But the next second, a SnapChat group called “Operation Wedding” exploded on my phone. Countless people were furiously @-ing me: “Ethan, where the hell are you? The MC has called for you a dozen times, why aren’t you making your entrance?” “Hurry up! If you don’t start soon, the guests will riot!” My head buzzed. When did this group appear? I have no memory of it at all! Just then, a voice message popped up: “Ethan Miller, are you getting married or not?” It was Chloe. Her tone was clearly tinged with anger. My parents also sent voice messages: “Ethan, what are you doing? Marriage is a serious matter, why are you disappearing now?” “Hurry up and come in! Everyone’s waiting! Chloe has been looking for you everywhere. Don’t mess around at a time like this, hurry up, if you don’t come, we’re going to get angry!”

I was instantly infuriated, and I directly sent them the video recording of my call with Aunt Carol. “Mom, Dad, what’s going on with you? Why are you all in on this trick?” “I’m not married at all! Why are you playing such a joke? This isn’t funny!” I thought they’d back down, but then my mom’s scolding voice came through. “Carol, what are you doing! My son is acting up, but are you losing your mind too? Is this really something to joke about?” Aunt Carol’s pleading voice followed: “Oh, Honey, I’m sorry!” “I thought Ethan was having cold feet, so I just wanted to tease him! How was I supposed to know he’d hide and skip his own wedding!” “Ethan, your aunt was wrong! You really are married! I processed your marriage certificate myself! Hurry up and come in, Aunt Carol has been waiting for ages to celebrate your wedding!” I widened my eyes in disbelief. Didn’t Aunt Carol work at the civil affairs bureau? How could she be at the wedding venue? I quickly video called Aunt Carol. But Aunt Carol was sitting primly at the marriage registry, looking impatient: “You kid, I’m busy right now! Why are you calling again?” I instantly felt a chill run through me. What was going on? How could there be two Aunt Carols at once? But neither of them seemed fake. Which one was real? I felt like my head was going to explode. Trembling, I sent the call history into the group chat. “I’m not married at all! What exactly are you trying to do?” The previously buzzing group chat suddenly fell silent. Then, Chloe sent a voice message: “Ethan Miller, what are you trying to prove by constantly sending AI images?” “My patience has limits. I’m giving you five more minutes. If you don’t show up, you’ll face the consequences…” Hearing that, I stiffened. Chloe, the city’s ultimate power player, who dared to cross her? But would someone like her play along with a nobody like me? This wedding was incredibly lavish and dreamy. Just the imported peonies alone, flown in from overseas and worthy of a royal wedding, cost over a million dollars. Who would spend such a fortune on a prank? The group was still buzzing with urgent messages, and my phone kept ringing. My emotional defenses slowly crumbled; I desperately wanted to rush to the venue to confirm. But the fear of being hit by the truck in my past life once again choked me. No! I couldn’t gamble. Just then, my phone rang urgently: Chloe! My pupils constricted instantly, and I almost dropped my phone. Impossible! I had searched countless times just now; Chloe’s name wasn’t in my contacts at all! Why was her name appearing on my phone now?! My heart pounded wildly. Trembling, I pressed the answer button. Chloe appeared on the screen, her face a mask of frost: “Ethan Miller, time’s up. Are you… still not coming?” A strange pang of sadness hit me, and I cautiously began: “Ms…. Ms. Chloe, we’re not… not married, are we?” As my words fell, her eyelashes trembled violently for a few seconds on the video call. She let out a bitter, sarcastic laugh. “Ethan Miller, you really outdid yourself!” “We’ve been together for three years. I thought if I loved you unconditionally and fulfilled your every need, I could win you over…” “But now, it seems I was wrong…” Seeing her forlorn expression, I almost reflexively denied it: “No, it’s not like that…” Marry her? I’ve dreamed of it! I’ve had a crush on her since high school. All these years, I hadn’t dated anyone because my heart was always set on her!

But logic told me that this was all fake. How could an ordinary man like me make the ‘Ice Queen’ burn with passion? Moreover, in my previous life, I died tragically at that intersection; I couldn’t gamble with my life! I took a deep breath and looked at her with a mix of seriousness and complexity: “Ms. Chloe… we really aren’t married! Please stop messing with me… okay?” Hearing this, the warmth in Chloe’s eyes slowly froze. She gave a desolate smile, nodded, and then simply hung up. Before I could react, my parents’ call immediately came in: “Ethan Miller, are you insane? A wife like Chloe, you wouldn’t find even if you searched with a flashlight, and you’re letting her go!” “Why are you so willful? You always took her love for granted when you were dating, constantly making her prove how much she loved you. Now that you’re married, you’re still acting up like this? What exactly do you want?” I was so anxious, I almost cried. “Mom, Dad, what’s wrong with you? I’m not married to Chloe, I…” My parents immediately erupted in anger, delivering harsh threats: “Still playing dumb!” “Let me tell you, Ethan Miller, if you don’t show up, we won’t acknowledge you as our son!” The call was immediately cut off. When I tried to call back, the number was disconnected. I was on the verge of a breakdown. Suddenly remembering the hotel’s name, I immediately called them. “Excuse me, is Chloe and Ethan Miller’s wedding being held at your hotel today?” The voice on the other end was decisive: “I’m sorry, we don’t have any wedding banquets today. Are you looking to book one?” The knot in my stomach finally loosened. See? They were indeed lying to me! It must be Chloe who had bought everyone off, deliberately playing a cruel trick on me! Only she would have such immense power to make everyone listen to her. But what was her motive? Before I could figure it out, Liam suddenly sent me a link. I instinctively clicked it open, and the sight that greeted me made my vision go black! It was Chloe standing at the ballroom entrance! Her eyes were bloodshot as she publicly announced the cancellation of her wedding to me. Countless reporters swarmed her, their cameras flashing wildly. News of me ditching my wedding flooded the internet. Everyone was calling me an arrogant jerk, ungrateful, saying I turned down the city’s wealthiest CEO. My parents and Liam were frantic, sweating profusely, constantly trying to dissuade her: “Chloe, Chloe, please wait a little longer, okay?” “Ethan isn’t someone who’d be so inconsiderate, he must have run into something. Can we please wait a little longer?” “I’ll go find him myself right now, I’ll drag him back and make him explain, okay?” Aunt Carol eagerly chimed in from the side: “Yes, Chloe, Ethan definitely didn’t do this on purpose!” “You don’t know, Ethan might be willful around you, but he’s always liked you! He’s acting up because he feels you’re too amazing, he feels insecure, like he’s not good enough for you!” “That kid, Ethan, has liked you since high school, he dreams of being with you! He cried with joy the day you got your marriage certificate. How could he intentionally not show up for such an important occasion as his wedding?” Chloe, her eyes bloodshot, let out a low laugh. “Not on purpose?” “Three years ago, the moment I met him, I swore I wouldn’t miss him again.” “To be with him, I gave my whole heart. This wedding has been planned for a year. I thought he was as excited as I was, but it seems it was all just my own self-delusion…” “He’s been treating me like an idiot, trampling my dignity into the dirt!”

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The night before the wedding, Lucas Miller’s father, Carter, and his mother, Mary, caught my husband, Lucas, in the act. When I arrived, Lucas was pinned to the ground by Carter and Mary, beaten and covered in blood. Seeing me, Lucas dropped to his knees in front of me. “I couldn’t control myself, I betrayed you!” “I’m willing to cancel the wedding tomorrow and divorce you.” “I just beg you not to blow this up…” I glared angrily at the man I had loved for five years, about to speak. Suddenly, a series of bullet comments popped up before my eyes. [Don’t listen to him! He won $300 million in the lottery yesterday!] [That $300 million is community property, half of it is yours!] [If you divorce, you won’t get a single dime!] Half of $300 million! I reached out and helped Lucas up from the ground. With a pang of fake heartache, I wiped the blood from his face. “I love you so much, how could I possibly divorce you?” Lucas stared at me, stunned. A flicker of disbelief crossed his eyes. After all, I’m not one to tolerate even a speck of dirt. Last time, he just gave a drunk female colleague a ride home. After I found out, I argued with him for a whole week. In the end, I still felt so stifled I wanted a divorce. Mary cried and begged me, and Carter kept promising that Lucas would never do it again. That’s how I reluctantly gave him another chance. This time, I caught him red-handed. According to my usual personality, I would have divorced him without hesitation. But now, I was forgiving him… Seeing this, Carter and Mary immediately rushed towards Lucas. Mary slapped Lucas hard across the face and burst into wails. “You heartless man!” “How could you do something so despicable again!” “That time you cheated on Fiona with that colleague,” “Carter and I went against our consciences begging Fiona to give you another chance.” “What did you promise us back then?!” “Why can’t you keep it in your pants and mess around outside!” Hearing Mary’s words, my heart ached. I instinctively let go of Lucas’s hand. So he had betrayed me even that time! But he had sworn to God that he and Mia were just colleagues. He had sworn that he would only ever love me… My lips trembled with pain, about to speak. Lucas knelt down again. “Fiona, I’m an asshole! I’m sorry!” “Not only did I cheat with Mia, but I also have a child with her.” A child! I stared at him, stunned, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably. Lucas and I had been lovingly together for five years. The man who would call my name in his sleep. Not only did he cheat on me with another woman. He even had a child! I stepped back two paces, the words “divorce him” on the tip of my tongue. The bullet comments scrolled again. [Don’t be impulsive! That child is Mia’s with another man.] [You can ditch the man, but you can’t ditch hundreds of millions!] [Lucas has 58 days left to cash in his lottery ticket.] [For these 58 days, the protagonist just has to put up with a disgusting situation.] I took a deep breath. Forcing myself to squeeze out a smile at Lucas. “Honey, your child is my child.” “If you and Mia don’t mind, I’ll raise this child.” Lucas’s face went pale. He jumped up from the floor as if he’d seen a ghost. He grabbed his clothes, threw them on, and ran out in a panic.

Carter and Mary stared at me, horrified, and quickly chased after him. Watching their retreating backs, I let out a mocking laugh. … The next day, I didn’t receive any notification from Lucas about canceling the wedding. Nor did Lucas’s bridal party arrive. I stared at myself in the mirror, fully made up and wearing a wedding dress. My nose stung. “Fiona, don’t be sad.” “You’re marrying money, not this scumbag Lucas!” So, I took my marriage certificate and drove to the hotel myself. But I still didn’t see Lucas. Even Carter and Mary didn’t show up. I wasn’t angry, nor did I cry. I followed the Emcee, step by step, through the ceremony. The guests below whispered and gossiped. “What’s going on? Why hasn’t the groom shown up?” “Did he get cold feet and not want to marry Fiona after all?!” “Fiona was the one who pursued Lucas, so it’s normal for him to have regrets, right?” “What are the Miller family relatives saying?” “Back then, Lucas’s family was struggling so much. If it weren’t for our Fiona, he wouldn’t be where he is today?” I stared at the relatives from both families arguing below. Scenes from back then instantly flashed through my mind. Many girls liked Lucas back then. But he was aloof, distant, and kept everyone at arm’s length. No one dared to directly confess to him. The only time I dared to approach him was when I was drunk. I chased him for several blocks. “Lucas, we’re in our junior year. If we don’t start dating now, we’ll be old before we know it.” “Lucas, I’m different from them.” “It’s not just your looks I like.” “Lucas, are you not dating because you don’t have money?” “I’m easy to support… I have a lot of money.” After that day, Lucas suddenly vanished from my life. The year before graduation, Lucas’s dad suddenly broke his leg. It needed a lot of money for surgery. Lucas found me for the first time, and spoke up himself. “Fiona, aren’t you rich?” “If you help pay for my dad’s treatment, I’ll be your boyfriend.” At that time, I joyfully put in money and effort to help Lucas through his difficulties. After graduation, I begged my dad to help Lucas invest. From nothing, he built up the small company he has today. Although not extremely wealthy, we were comfortably well-off. I always thought Lucas and I were partners who’d been through thick and thin, with deep feelings. But I never expected that the most important thing in his heart was only money! I snapped back to reality, and took the Emcee’s microphone with a bitter smile. My voice trembled slightly. “Lucas drank too much yesterday and hasn’t woken up yet.” “I asked Carter and Mary to stay home and take care of him.” I looked at the hundreds of guests present and pulled out my marriage certificate. “Lucas and I got our marriage license a year ago.” “Today’s wedding is just to celebrate.” “Please eat and drink well, I thank you all on behalf of the Miller family!” After that, I returned the microphone to the Emcee and left the wedding venue. Half an hour later, I stopped at Carter and Mary’s house, carrying a bag of supplements I’d bought for Lucas. I entered the electronic lock password as usual, but it told me the password was incorrect. I stared at the red electronic lock screen, laughing mockingly. Just as I was about to try another password, the bullet comments appeared again. [The password is 135790] [Lucas and his family are currently figuring out how to force you to divorce him.] [Go in quickly and give them a surprise.] I immediately entered the new password. The lock clicked open.

I pushed the door open quietly, and Mary’s voice immediately reached my ears. “Fiona is truly shameless.” “We didn’t even go to the wedding.” “She actually went through the whole ceremony by herself.” “Last time you took Mia home and she found out, she wanted a divorce.” “Yesterday we said such terrible things, and she still didn’t react.” Mary suddenly lowered her voice. “Could she possibly know about your lottery win?” Carter immediately interrupted Mary. “Absolutely not!” “I think she just can’t bear to leave Lucas.” “After all, she’s almost thirty. If she really divorces him,” “She won’t find another good man like Lucas.” Mary nodded. “Our Lucas, he’s a gem you’d be lucky to find.” I twisted my lips in disgust, about to speak. Lucas, who was leaning on the sofa, suddenly sat up straight. He stared at Carter and Mary with a sinister gaze. “If she still won’t divorce, then…” He leaned closer to Carter and Mary, lowering his voice. But fragmented words still reached my ears. He said: “Then let’s make Fiona the one at fault, so she gets nothing in the divorce!” The one at fault, and gets nothing? He’s dirty himself, and he wants to throw mud at me? No way! I deliberately cleared my throat. All three of them looked at me in horror. Mary shrieked, “How did you get in?!” “I clearly changed…” Carter forcefully pushed Mary. Mary immediately put on a vicious expression. She was about to speak. I immediately interrupted. “You didn’t go to the wedding today because you must have been too tired yesterday.” “I don’t blame you.” “I already showed everyone the marriage certificate.” “Even if Lucas wasn’t there, everyone knows we’re legally married.” Legally married. That means community property, half for each. Lucas’s face instantly darkened. He frowned at me. I didn’t give him a chance to speak. I shoved the supplements into his arms. “Lucas, these are supplements I bought for you all.” “You’ll have plenty of *effort* to expend going forward, so you’ll need to keep your strength up.” Lucas stared at the box of supplements, his temple visibly pulsed a few times. “Fiona, what do you mean?” I suppressed my disgust and intimately linked my arm through Lucas’s. “Lucas, I’ve thought it over.” “No matter what you do to me, I won’t ever bring up divorce.” “I’m almost thirty, and if I divorce you, I definitely won’t find a man as good as you.” “Before, I was young and impulsive.” “From now on, you can do whatever you want, I won’t interfere.” Lucas’s face turned white, and he angrily pushed me away. The bullet comments scrolled wildly. [Fiona is amazing!] [Lucas is panicking. He’ll go cash in the lottery ticket in the next few days.] [Once the prize money is in hand, the protagonist will immediately file for divorce!] [Don’t give him an inch!] For the next week, Lucas didn’t show his face. But Carter and Mary clung to me like demons. Even when I took a shower, Mary would stand guard outside the bathroom door, afraid I would disappear. Until the eighth night, my room door was suddenly pushed open from the outside. I opened my eyes in horror and switched on the light.

I saw a big, corpulent man staring at me with a lecherous grin. I shrieked in terror, frantically grabbing a pillow and throwing it at the man. The man was unfazed and chuckled suggestively. “Don’t panic. I’m Lucas’s friend.” “He said you’re scared of the dark at night, and asked me to keep you company.” “I’m very gentle.” Lucas! That scumbag! To make me leave with nothing, he actually did something so sick and twisted! I clenched my fists, forcing myself to calm down. The bullet comments appeared again. [Lucas has already cashed in the prize money.] [As soon as this creepy man succeeds, Lucas will rush in to take evidence and make you leave with nothing!] [Fiona must leave here immediately and find a lawyer to divorce him!] Leave! Find a lawyer to divorce him! I repeated these two sentences over and over. Looking up, the man was already by the bed. He tore off my blanket and sat down next to me. “Beautiful, I’m here!” I stared in horror at the man lunging at me, grabbed the vase from the bedside table, and smashed it hard on his head. He cried out in pain, clutching his head and falling to the floor. I seized the opportunity to jump out of bed, and kicked him hard in the groin. A more agonizing scream filled the entire bedroom. I cowered in the farthest corner, trembling with fear. Terrified tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. The bedroom door was suddenly thrown open. Carter, Mary, and Lucas stood at the doorway, each holding a phone, their faces excited. But when they saw the man lying on the ground, covered in blood, they all froze. Lucas was the first to react. He rushed forward, quickly playing the victim. “Fiona, you’re so shameless!” “You’re bringing other men into our home!” “What exactly did I not provide you with,” “that you’re playing such perverted games with another man!” Mary snapped back to reality, pressing the camera button repeatedly. “You shameless bitch, you’re cuckolding our Lucas!” “I’m going to make Lucas divorce you!” “I’m going to make you leave with nothing!” Carter chimed in. “That’s right! Leave with nothing! You won’t get a single dime!” I stared at Carter, Mary, and Lucas, trembling all over. For the past five years, I had treated them like family, giving them my whole heart. What I got in return was their cold indifference today. My body shaking, I painfully moved to stand in front of Lucas. I raised my hand and slapped Lucas across the face. “Lucas, *you’re* the one who should leave with nothing!” Lucas stared at me, bewildered. It took him a while to react. The next second, his palm landed on my face. “Make me leave with nothing? In your dreams!” He held up his phone. “Even though I didn’t capture the most ‘exciting’ moments.” “But a man and a woman alone in a room, everyone knows what that means.” “This video alone is enough to prove you cheated!”

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For five years, I kept my identity as the heiress to a powerful conglomerate a secret. I willingly gave up my privileged life to help Leonardo fight his way from nothing to the CEO of a multinational corporation. Full of joy, I took my prenatal scan to surprise him, only to see him kneeling through the crack in the door, kissing Tiffany’s slightly swollen belly. When he saw me, he showed no remorse. Instead, he coldly slammed an abortion consent form onto my face. “Tiffany has severe depression. She can’t stand to see anyone else pregnant. Go get the abortion tomorrow. Don’t make me angry.” I looked at the man I had poured everything into, and suddenly, I felt utterly disgusted. For a gold-digger, he wanted to kill my child. But he didn’t know. Everything he owned was merely a toy I had casually bestowed upon him. Since he had no shame, I would take back everything that was mine, with interest! “Mr. Leonardo, Miss Tiffany’s pregnancy is stable, but her emotions absolutely must not be stimulated.” I stood outside the CEO’s office, clutching the ultrasound report that read “Four Weeks Pregnant.” My knuckles were white from clenching so hard. The door wasn’t fully closed. Through that glaring gap, I saw my husband, Leonardo, who was usually so cold and imperious at the office, now kneeling on one knee in front of the leather sofa. He held a bowl of steaming, high-end nutritional broth, carefully blowing on it to cool it down, as tenderly as if he were handling a priceless treasure. Then, he slowly brought it to Tiffany’s lips. “Tiffany, come on, just a sip. For our baby, you need to eat something.” Tiffany was wearing an oversized men’s shirt, its collar slightly open, revealing suggestive red marks. She pushed Leonardo’s hand away with a whine, tears instantly welling up in her eyes, and said with a fragile, tearful look: “Leonardo, you spend every day with me like this. Won’t Aria be angry? After all… after all, she’s your legally married wife. What am I?” Leonardo scoffed, an undisguised look of disgust and disdain flashing across his handsome face. “Why even mention her? What a buzzkill. She’s just a dowdy housewife, always smelling of stale cooking.” “If it weren’t for her being so docile and responsible, like a free live-in maid who could take care of me, I never would have married her.” He put the bowl down and pulled Tiffany into his embrace with a pained expression, kissing her forehead. “You’re the only one in my heart, always have been. As soon as this baby is born, I’ll divorce her immediately and marry you. Everyone will know you’re my true wife.” I stood outside the door, my blood running cold as if drained from my body, shivering from head to toe. Five years. For him, I broke ties with my family, abandoned my esteemed status as the heiress of the Franklin Corporation, and lived anonymously. I endured countless hardships with him in this city. When he was starting his business, he couldn’t attract investors, and he stayed up all night smoking on the rooftop, desperate. It was me who secretly leveraged my grandfather Spencer’s connections, disguised as a mysterious investor, paving the way for him. He worked overtime until he had a stomach hemorrhage trying to rush a project. I never left his side at the hospital for half a month, neglecting myself entirely, preparing him various stomach-soothing broths until my own hair started falling out. I thought we were a couple who had been through thick and thin, with a love as strong as steel. But it turned out, in Leonardo’s eyes, I was just a doormat who practically paid to be his live-in maid. A mere stepping stone, to be kicked aside at any moment to make room for his precious first love. I took a deep breath and suddenly pushed the door open. With a loud “bang,” the heavy solid wood door slammed against the wall, startling the two people who were locked in an intimate embrace inside. Tiffany shrieked, shrinking into Leonardo’s arms like a startled rabbit. Leonardo’s face instantly changed. Seeing me standing at the door, his brows furrowed into a tight knot, his eyes full of the fury of someone whose secret pleasure had been interrupted. “Aria? What are you doing here? Who told you to come in without knocking! You have no manners!” He instinctively spread his arms to shield Tiffany behind him, as if I were some man-eating monster. I ignored his roaring noun and walked in step by step, staring intently at his face, which I had once been so infatuated with, and held up the ultrasound report. “I came to tell you I’m pregnant.” “But now it seems, I’ve come at a bad time. My apologies for interrupting, Mr. Leonardo.”

The office instantly fell into a deathly silence. Leonardo’s gaze fell on the report in my hand, his pupils sharply contracting. But there wasn’t a hint of joy on his face, only a flash of extreme irritation and disgust. Tiffany tugged at his sleeve, her eyes instantly red, tears streaming down her face, her voice trembling like leaves in the autumn wind. “Leonardo… Aria is pregnant too… What about our baby?” “I should just go. I don’t want to break up your family. I’ll just have the baby alone and raise it myself…” She made a move to stand up. Leonardo immediately pressed her back onto the sofa, his face contorted with distress, and quickly reached out to wipe her tears. “What nonsense! The child in your belly is my child, Leonardo’s! Who dares to make you leave! If anyone leaves, it’s her!” After comforting Tiffany, he turned his head and looked down at me, his eyes as cold as poisoned ice blades. “Aria, this child can’t stay.” I thought I misheard, my ears ringing. “What did you say?” Leonardo strode to the desk, pulled open a drawer, took out a pre-prepared abortion consent form, and slammed it down on the table. “I said, go to the hospital tomorrow and get the procedure done.” He pointed at the trembling Tiffany on the sofa, his tone self-righteous: “Tiffany developed a chronic illness after saving me back then. She has severe depression and can’t handle any stress.” “Given her current condition, she absolutely cannot see that you’re also pregnant.” “You’re strong, healthy as an ox. You can have children a couple of years later; it’ll be the same.” I stared at the man before me in disbelief, as if looking at a completely unfamiliar monster. To protect his mistress’s child, he wanted to kill his own flesh and blood? “Leonardo, are you insane! This is our child! The child we’ve longed for for five years!” “Yesterday, you were still touching my belly, saying that if it was a girl, you’d buy her all the best dresses in the world!” “Plans change!” Leonardo interrupted me impatiently, his voice dripping with arrogant condescension. “Aria, don’t be unreasonable. This might be Tiffany’s only chance to be a mother in her life. I must protect her.” “You’ve held my wife’s position for five whole years, enjoyed so much wealth and glory. You should be content.” “Now, for Tiffany, what’s wrong with you suffering a little inconvenience? Don’t look at me like I owe you millions!” I looked at his self-righteous face, my stomach churning, the disgust shooting right through me. “What if I refuse to go through with it?” I gritted my teeth, asking each word distinctly. Leonardo sneered, his eyes filled with overt threat and disdain. “Aria, don’t make me do this the hard way.” “You’re a housewife who hasn’t worked and has been out of touch with society for five years. What do you have to fight me with?” “Without me, you can’t even support yourself, let alone a child!” “Tomorrow morning at eight, I’ll have the driver pick you up for the hospital. Don’t force me to send people to drag you there.” “If things get too ugly, you’re the one who’ll be embarrassed!”

I didn’t cry, nor did I throw a dramatic tantrum like a shrew. Looking at Leonardo’s utterly selfish face, I only found it laughable. I, Aria, the sole heiress of the mighty Franklin Corporation, had wasted five years of my youth on a blind, ungrateful fool. “Alright, I understand.” I calmly put away the ultrasound report, not sparing them another glance, and turned to walk out of the office. Behind me, Tiffany’s sweet, deliberately provocative voice carried: “Leonardo, is Aria mad at me? Her eyes were so scary just now; will she get revenge on us…?” “Forget about that crazy woman.” Leonardo scoffed, his tone full of certainty. “She’s useless without me; she can’t survive. Just scare her a bit, and she’ll calm down. Tomorrow, she’ll definitely go to the hospital obediently.” Listening to Leonardo’s conceited mockery, a cold smile touched my lips. Can’t survive without you? Leonardo, you overestimate yourself. You think you stand at the pinnacle of this city, but you don’t realize that the entire empire beneath your feet belongs to my family, the Franklins. Stepping out of the Leonardo Group building, the sunlight outside made me squint slightly. I took a taxi directly to a top-tier private hospital with extreme privacy. I didn’t get an abortion. Instead, I had the chief physician personally perform the most comprehensive prenatal check-up on me. After confirming that the baby was perfectly healthy, merely a little unstable due to my emotional fluctuations, I walked to the hospital’s quiet VIP garden and dialed a number I hadn’t called in five years. The phone rang three times before it was answered. A voice, old but incomparably authoritative, came through, tinged with unconcealed excitement and trembling. “Aria? Is that you? Is it really you?” Hearing my grandfather Spencer’s voice, my feigned strength instantly crumbled. My eyes welled up, and I fought back tears. “Grandpa, it’s me. I was wrong.” “I shouldn’t have disobeyed you back then, insisting on marrying that animal, Leonardo.” There was a two-second silence on the other end, followed by a heavy sigh, and then the distinct thud of a cane hitting the ground. “Just come back! It’s good that you’re back! The Franklin family doors are always open for you.” “Did Leonardo hurt you? I knew that mean-looking boy couldn’t be trusted!” “Yes.” I took a deep breath, wiped away my tears, and my eyes became cold and sharp. “Grandpa, I want Leonardo to lose everything, to be utterly disgraced. I want him to kneel, begging for death but unable to find it.” “Good!” Grandpa’s voice was firm and powerful, carrying the authority of a superior. “Anyone who dares to bully my granddaughter, Spencer’s granddaughter, I’ll make their whole family pay! It’s time for a shake-up in Las Vegas!” “Mr. Harrison will contact you in ten minutes. Just tell him what you need to do.” “All of the Franklin family’s resources are at your disposal!” After hanging up, I felt the five-year-long burden on my heart finally lift. Leonardo thought I was a soft touch, easy to manipulate. He had no idea that sixty percent of the dark shares in his proudly built Leonardo Group were under my name, Aria’s! He was only able to sit securely in the CEO’s chair because I had been secretly controlling the capital behind the scenes. With just one word from me, his commercial empire would collapse tomorrow. But I didn’t want him to die too easily. I wanted to watch him bleed out slowly, to see everything he owned turn into smoke, making him experience true despair.

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I was suffering from a rare form of retrograde amnesia. Every morning I woke up, I’d forgotten everything that happened the day before. My husband, Christian, was my only memory anchor. Every day, he would patiently tell me, “You’re Price, 29 years old, my wife, and we’re very much in love.” Until I found a filled diary deep within the study. Flipping to the first page, it was my handwriting: “Don’t believe anything Christian says.” “Cowell isn’t his cousin, she’s his childhood sweetheart.” “You’re not sick; he’s the one who’s been poisoning you.” Today was the 1001st time I’d discovered the truth, and the first day I decided to play along. I opened my eyes that morning, my mind a complete blank. “Awake?” I turned my head and saw a man in a bathrobe sitting on the edge of the bed. “Who am I?” I asked, instinctively. The man smiled, reaching out to ruffle my hair. “You’re Price, my wife. You’re sick; you forget everything from the day before.” He pointed to a photo frame on the nightstand. “That’s our wedding photo.” In the picture, I was in a wedding dress, leaning against him. But strangely, the photo’s edge had obvious creases. “Then who are you?” “Christian.” He held my hand, his fingertips warm. “Your only memory anchor.” I nodded, accepting the explanation. Christian helped me out of bed, squeezed toothpaste onto my brush, and even meticulously combed my hair. “What do you want to do today?” I looked at myself in the mirror. “I don’t know. I don’t remember anything.” “Then leave it to me.” Christian wrapped his arms around me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder. “We have a family doctor coming for a recheck this morning. This afternoon, I’ll take you for a walk in the garden, and tonight…” Before he could finish, the doorbell rang. Christian released me, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. “That must be Dr. Cowell.” I followed him downstairs. A woman in a white coat stood in the living room. She turned around, and her eyes clearly brightened when she saw Christian. “Christian, how is Price today?” Christian naturally walked over to Cowell, taking the medical bag from her hand. Their fingers brushed as they exchanged it, and neither pulled away. Cowell looked at me, a swift, appraising look flashing in her eyes. “Price, let’s measure your memory baseline today.” For the last question of the test, she pointed to Christian. “Who is he?” “My husband.” Cowell’s pen paused, and the corners of her mouth turned up. “Basic cognition is still present, but Christian, I still recommend increasing the dosage.” She finished packing her instruments. As she stood up, her fingers casually brushed the back of Christian’s hand. I sat on the sofa and watched Cowell stand on tiptoe at the door, whispering something in his ear. When he closed the door and returned, his face had resumed its programmed tenderness. “Price, what do you want for lunch today?” I stared into his eyes. “What did she tell you outside just now?” Christian froze for a moment. Then, a scrutinizing look flashed in his eyes. “Why are you asking that?” I lowered my head, twisting the hem of my shirt. “She comes every day. She’s so good to me.” “Dr. Cowell is just doing her job.” Christian pulled me into his embrace. The faint scent of cedarwood on him was the same as the scent on Cowell. “Price, you have to remember, in this world, I’m the only one who truly cares about you.” “Don’t believe anything anyone else says.” I nodded obediently, leaning against his chest, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

Christian went to the office in the afternoon, and I was alone, sunbathing in the yard. Paul, the housekeeper, brought me fruit, looking at me as if he wanted to say something. “Mrs. Price, do you really not remember anything?” I shook my head blankly. “Christian says I’m sick.” Paul’s lips parted, and he ultimately sighed. “Then listen to Mr. Christian. He’s looking out for you.” As he turned to walk away, I heard him murmur. “Poor thing, she can’t even hold onto what her parents left her…” I was about to ask more, when the sound of a car engine reached the yard gate. Cowell arrived with her medical bag, an apologetic look on her face. “So sorry, Price, I forgot to give you your shot this morning. Just remembered and came right over.” With that, she took out a syringe. “This is a new nerve-boosting medication. Christian agreed to start you on it today.” I instinctively recoiled. But she grabbed my hand, her grip surprisingly strong. “Price, be good. It’s for your own good.” I struggled a bit, and she immediately frowned. “Don’t move around, or it’ll hurt.” The needle pierced my skin, and before long, I fell into a heavy sleep. I had a terrible dream. In the dream, I stood at the edge of a cliff. Christian and Cowell embraced. “Price, jump! Jumping will set you free!” I didn’t want to, I wanted to run away. But Christian blocked me, forcing me step by step to the very edge. “Price, once you’re dead, I’ll get all the shares!” With that, he suddenly shoved me off. “Ah!” I jolted awake, but no one was around. Through the greenhouse glass, I saw two people talking. I shook my groggy head and suddenly spoke. “Christian, are we really married?” Their conversation stopped abruptly. Christian turned his head, his eyes in that instant becoming terrifying. He walked towards me, step by step. “Why are you asking that?” His gaze made me tremble with fear. “I just found it strange. Why do we only have one wedding photo?” “Why is there no trace of my past anywhere in this house?” He gripped my hand, so hard my bones ached. “Because you’re sick, Price.” “When you have an episode, you destroy things – you tear up photos, smash furniture.” “To protect you, and to protect our memories, I’ve put everything away. Don’t you trust me?” He looked at me, his eyes flashing with pain. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have doubted you.” Christian’s expression softened, and he pulled me into his arms. “It’s okay. I know you’re sick. I’ll stay with you until you’re cured.” I leaned on his shoulder, my gaze drifting over it to Cowell, who still stood nearby. Perhaps due to the medication, I fell asleep exceptionally early that night. At 2 AM, I woke up, thirsty. I got out of bed, fumbled my way to the kitchen, and as I poured water, I noticed the light in the greenhouse was still on. On a strange impulse, I walked over. Through the glass, I saw Cowell sitting in a wicker chair, wearing a bathrobe. Christian stood behind her, leaning over to massage her shoulders. “Was today’s dosage too strong? She actually started to suspect things today.” His voice carried to me. Cowell tilted her head back, resting the back of her head against his stomach. “Suspicion is normal. That drug damages the memory region. Over time, people become paranoid and even develop persecution delusions.” She reached out and clasped Christian’s wrist. “Christian, are you getting soft?” “No.” He smiled, an expression of indifference I’d never seen before. “This is what she owes me. If she hadn’t forced me to marry her back then, I’d already be a corporate high-flyer!” Cowell laughed. “Just three more months, and her cognitive function will be permanently damaged.” “Then she’ll truly be sick, and no one will ever find out.” Christian laughed heartily. “Exactly. By then, I’ll have her parents’ fortune, and we can finally truly be together!”

I stood in the darkness, fragmented images suddenly surging forward. Christian crushing pills and putting them in my milk. Cowell holding a syringe, smiling gently and saying, “This is for your own good.” Back then, I had frantically written in my diary, “Don’t trust them.” So I really had kept a diary, really discovered the truth! But every day I woke up, I would forget. In the greenhouse, Cowell stood up, turned, and wrapped her arms around Christian’s waist. She buried her face in his chest. “These years, pretending to be your cousin has been so exhausting.” Christian gently stroked her back. “Just a little longer. The paperwork for the Howard family’s asset transfer will be done soon.” “You deliberately got close to her back then just for her parents’ inheritance, didn’t you?” “What else?” Christian laughed, his voice laced with mockery. “Who would truly love a fool stupid enough to be tricked every day?” I clamped my hand over my mouth, desperate to escape, but my foot stepped on a dry twig. The lights in the greenhouse instantly went out. I ran back to the bedroom as fast as I could, scrambling under the covers, my heart pounding like it was about to burst. The door creaked open. Christian stood in the doorway, not turning on the light. He walked over and reached out, touching my forehead. “Price, where were you just now?” I forced myself to sound groggy, like I’d just been woken up. “What? I’ve been sleeping.” He didn’t speak. His fingers slid from my forehead down to my neck, stopping on a purplish bruise, pressing lightly. It hurt so much I almost cried out. “Had a nightmare? You’re sweating a lot.” I bit my lip. Christian leaned down, close to my ear. “Price, remember, you can go anywhere in this house, except the greenhouse in the backyard.” “It’s too damp there; it’s bad for your illness.” I nodded, not daring to make a sound. He smiled, satisfied, and tucked me in. “Sleep. Everything will be fine tomorrow when you wake up.” He left, the door not quite closed. I heard him tell Cowell in the hallway, “She might have found out. Move the plan forward!” Only when the hallway was completely quiet did I dare to open my eyes. Christian had said that the study held the things I tore up during my episodes. I remembered where the key was. I crept barefoot into the study. When I opened the door, a musty smell assailed me. Shredded photos, smashed ornaments, half-torn books — all piled in a corner. I saw the bottom shelf of the bookshelf. One book’s thickness seemed off. I pulled it out and opened it; the book was hollowed out. Inside was a leather notebook. I opened the first page, and it was my handwriting. “March 15th, Christian gave me a new medication today. I pretended to swallow it, then turned and spat it into the toilet.” “When Cowell came to check, I deliberately said my head hurt. The excitement in her eyes couldn’t be hidden.” “May 20th, our wedding anniversary. Christian gave me a necklace. That night, I found a transfer record to Cowell on his phone. How ironic.” I turned page after page. The diary recorded the time and place of their every secret meeting. The last page contained only one large line, written in red marker. “Price, escape! They will kill you!” My hands began to tremble violently. Bang! I heard the front door open downstairs. I hastily shoved the diary back into its place. I had just run back to the bedroom and lay down when the door was pushed open. Christian stood in the doorway. He turned on the light, holding a syringe, medicine dripping from its tip. He walked over, smiling. “Price, you went to the study, didn’t you?”

I shook my head frantically, tears streaming uncontrollably. “I checked the study door lock. There are new scratches on it.” Christian sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out to caress my face. “Why aren’t you obedient?” I trembled with fear. “Christian, I really didn’t. I just went to the bathroom.” “Stop pretending.” He suddenly ripped off the covers, grabbed my ankle, and dragged me to the edge of the bed. “The mud on the bottom of your feet isn’t wiped clean. There are your footprints on the study floor.” My entire body went stiff, unable to speak. Christian raised the syringe, pushed it, and liquid sprayed from the needle’s tip. “I originally wanted to let you live for another three months, but you’re not behaving.” He smiled. “Tonight, it ends.” The moment the needle pierced my skin, I lifted my foot and kicked him in the chest. Christian hadn’t expected me to still have the strength to resist. He fell backward, and the syringe flew out of his hand. I rolled off the bed, scrambling towards the door. Before I could run two steps, he grabbed my hair from behind. “Do you think you can escape?” He dragged me back, slamming me onto the bed, his knee pressing down on my legs. The pain made my vision go black, but I gritted my teeth and forced out the words. “Christian, if you kill me, the police will find out!” “Find out?” He scoffed, glancing at me. “You have retrograde amnesia; everyone knows that.” “You forget everything every day. When you have an episode, you self-harm and attempt suicide.” “Tonight, you had an episode and injected yourself with an overdose of medication. What does that have to do with me?” He leaned down, close to my face. “Cowell will testify for me, saying your condition had already reached an uncontrollable level.” “Do you think anyone will suspect me?” Christian released my hair, getting up to pick up another spare syringe from the floor. In that split second, I fiercely pulled out the phone I had hidden under my pillow. The screen was lit, on a call, the number was 911. I held up the phone, my voice trembling. “Christian, you’ve been talking for three minutes. The operator heard everything.” He froze, his face instantly turning ashen. Outside the door, an urgent knocking suddenly sounded. “Open up, police!” Christian looked at me, then let out a cold laugh. “Price, when did you recover your memory?” I didn’t answer. I just clutched the phone, shouting with all my might towards the door. “Help me!” The door was crashed open. Two uniformed police officers rushed in, followed by someone holding a body camera. Christian took a step back, a smile quickly plastered on his face. “Officers, it’s all a misunderstanding. My wife is sick; she was having an episode just now.” The leading officer raised a hand to interrupt him. “Mr. Christian, we have recorded everything you just said.” “Now, please come with us.” Christian’s smile froze on his face. He turned to look at me, a cold smirk on his lips. The police handcuffed him and escorted him out. As he passed me, he suddenly stopped. He turned his head, and in a voice only I could hear, said. “Price, do you think this is over?” “Don’t forget, Cowell is still out there.” I suddenly looked up. At the end of the hallway, Cowell stood in the darkness, holding a scalpel. She smiled at me, then disappeared down the staircase. The police chased after her, but I heard a flurry of urgent footsteps downstairs. Then, everything fell silent. I collapsed onto the floor, trembling uncontrollably. My phone suddenly rang again. A text message came from an unknown number, just one line. “Price, we’re not done yet.”

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